


Book- 3 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 













THE 

BELL HAVEN 
EIGHT 

BY 

GEORGE BARTON 

Author of “Barry Wynn,” “In Quest of the 
Golden Chest,” etc. 


ILLUSTRATED BY 

CHARLES PAXSON GRAY 


PHILADELPHIA 

THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 



Copyright, 1914, by 
The John C. Winston Co, 


OCT -b 1314 

©CI.A880727 


To 

CLARENCE LINCOLN HAZZARD 


i 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

1. The Challenge 11 

II. Turning the Tables 24 

III. Facing the Music 39 

IV. The Old Boat House 54 

V. '' Julius Caesar 65 

VI. The Worm Turns 78 

VII. A Friend in Need 95 

VIII. PiNKY^s Green Book 110 

IX. The Stolen Oar 125 

X. Footprints in the Sand . . . 138 

XI. The Quarrel 151 

XII. Pinky's Plight 164 

XIII. Daylight and Darkness . . . 176 

XIV. The Faithful Tramp 187 

XV. The Burden Bearers 200 

XVI. A Testimonial to Tramp... 212 
XVII. In the Sugar Barrel 226 

XVIII. The Old Coffee Pot 239 

( 7 ) 


8 


Contents 


CHAPTER PAGE 

XIX. Adam on the Trail 249 

XX. The Cat Out of the Bag.. 262 

XXI. Ready for the Race 274 

XXII. Forbes Thinks Quickly 285 

XXIII. A Thrilling Finish 300 

XXIV. The Golden Sculls 310 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

The Unexpected Move Looked Like 
A Deliberate Attempt to Throw 


THE Race Away Frontispiece 

/ / PAGE 

Cassius and Brutus Followed Im- 

mediately 76 ^ 

^^What You Do Here?^^ Shrieked 

THE Evil Looking One. . . .* 173 ^ 

The Old Coffee Pot Was Filled to ^ 
THE Brim 248 


( 9 ) 



THE BELL HAVEN EIGHT 


CHAPTER I 

THE CHALLENGE 

P INKY PALMER flitted about the 
grounds of the Bell Haven Academy, 
pausing every now and then to tack 
a sheet of paper on a convenient tree or 
fence 'post. It was dusk, and the boy 
moved around as though he was afraid of 
being detected. Bobby Benson, perched on 
a fence rail, just outside of the campus, did 
not recognize his chum at once. But some- 
thing about the unknown seemed strangely 
familiar. The youngster scratched his head 
in perplexity. Presently the answer to the 
puzzle came to him like a flash. 

‘^By jiminy!” he cried, ^^iPs Pinky; but 
what in blazes does he mean by wandering 
around like a ghost?^^ 

Benson jumped off the fence and started 
( 11 ) 


12 


The Bell Haven Eight 


in the direction of the dormitories. As he 
neared the entrance to the Academy the 
mysterious figure suddenly disappeared, 
but not before the cause of his skulking 
had been revealed. He had been posting 
typewritten notices. Bobby struck a match 
in order to examine one of them, and found 
that it was an unsigned call for a meeting 
of the boys to be held in the refectory on 
the following Thursday evening, for the 
purpose of organizing a boat club. Benson 
headed for his own room and, as he ex- 
pected, foupd Palmer there, reclining on 
the couch in an attitude of studied in- 
difference. 

Hello!’’ he cried, how’s the amateur 
bill poster?” 

Pinky flushed until his face was almost 
the color of his hair. 

^^What — ^what do you mean?” he stam- 
mered. 

“You know blamed well what I mean. 
Didn’t I catch you just now sneaking 
around like a thief in the night?” 

“It’s a call to organize a boat club,” 
admitted Pinky. 


The Challenge 


13 


“I read it/^ confessed Bobby, ^^but why 
all this secrecy, Bo? You couldn’t be 
arrested for wanting to form a boat club.” 
! just crazy to get up a crew at Bell 

Haven,” explained Pinky in a lowered 
voice, ^^but I was afraid if we talked about 
it too much that Doctor Maury might just 
take it into his wise old head to nip the 
scheme in the bud. You know he was 
mighty cross because five of the nine fellows 
on the championship baseball • team fell 

down in their studies ” 

Baseball didn’t do that,” interrupted 
Benson; “they’d have fallen down if they 
hadn’t been on the team.” 

^H’m not going to argue that,” said the 
sagacious Pinky; “all I know is that I 
feared the doctor might put his foot on 

the boat business ” 

“And yet you’ve posted notices for a 
meeting?” cried the incredulous Bobby. 

A cunning smile crossed the countenance 
of the aubum-haired one. 

had to wait,” he said in a hushed 
voice, “until I was sure the doctor wasn’t 
here. I found out today that he had left 


14 


The Bell Haven Eight 


town and wouldn^t return for a week. 
‘So/ says I to myself, ‘now Pinky, me boy, 
this is the time to hold your meeting and 
form your club.’ I was posting the notices 
when you came along like Hawkshaw the 
detective, and nearly scared me stiff.” 

Benson stared at his chum admiringly. 

“You’re certainly a diplomat. Pinky,” 
he said. 

“Go ahead,” chuckled the red-haired 
one, ^^go as far as you like. I’ve been 
called worse things than that.” 

“But,” exclaimed Bobby, a new thought 
presenting itself, “what’s going to happen 
when the doctor returns?” 

“Nothing,” was the triumphant retort, 
“it will be all over by that time — ^all except 
the shouting. The whole thing will be 
organized, and the doctor won’t have the 
heart to break it up. He’s human, take 
it from me. It’ll be hard to break it up. 
It’ll be like trying to unscramble an 
omelette — an awful job.” 

Further conversation was stopped by the 
ringing of the supper bell. The two boys 
made a hasty toilet and hurried down to 


The Challenge 


15 


the long, narrow room known as the 
refectory. 

It was Bobby’s second year at Bell 
Haven. The preceding year had been all 
that could be desired. He had progressed 
satisfactorily with his studies and — greatest 
of all to the boyish mind — ^he had been the 
captain of the Bell Haven ball team that 
won the Academic championship from the 
Burlingham Academy, 
j, Bobby had advanced during the year, 
not only in age and wisdom, but also in 
physical power. He had grown several 
inches taller, was broader across the shoul- 
ders and fuller in the chest and had become 
a stranger to fear. Almost unconsciously 
he had also acquired two valuable traits. 
One was persistence — ^the power to stick 
at a task or to cling to an idea until it 
had been brought to a successful conclusion. 
The other was self-control, a virtue that had 
enabled him to keep in check a violent 
temper. 

Pinky Palmer, also, in the months at 
Bell Haven, had developed in many ways. 
He was still free and easy in his ways^ but 


16 


The Bell Haven Eight 


he was less given to the horse-play which 
had kept the other boys in an uproar. 
The business-like manner in which Bobby 
Benson had whipped the Bell Haven nine 
into shape and the bull-dog tenacity with 
which he had worked to win the baseball 
championship had not been lost on the red- 
haired and freckle-faced one. 

Pinky loved the water. He could swim 
with the ease and certainty of a duck, and 
aquatic sports appealed to him very 
strongly. He had often looked out on the 
broad surface of the Arlington River and 
bemoaned the fact that the Bell Haven 
Academy was without a boat club. There 
had been such a thing in the old days and a 
dilapidated boathouse stood near the water’s 
edge as a reminder of the glories that had 
gone. For more than a decade, now, it 
had been the haunt of rats and bats. How 
to save it from final and complete ruin had 
been the problem that filled many of his 
waking hours. He was shrewd enough to 
realize that it would take some strategy 
to organize a crew. The Academy already 
contained baseball, football and basket- 


The Challenge 


17 


ball teams, and these things, with swimming 
and skating, occupied most of the spare 
time of the pupils. It was Benson^s success 
with the ball team that had finally decided 
Pinky to make the plunge. 

'^Hey, Pinky!’’ shouted John Forbes, 
the boy who rejoiced in the sobriquet 
of the Sleeping Beauty, ^Hhere’s a call 
out for a meeting to organize a boat 
club.” 

Palmer, who was stuffing a wedge of 
pound cake in his mouth, was startled at 
this sudden and unexpected reference to 
his posters. 

— ^know,” he stammered, coughing and 
choking as the crumbs went down the 
wrong way. read ’em just before 

I came in tonight.” 

^^It’s a bully idea,” called Forbes from 
across the table, ''an’ the only thing I don’t 
understan’ is why some one didn’t think of 
it long ago.” 

Pinky, who had barely escaped strangu- 
lation from the overdose of cake, smiled 
approvingly. It was fine to have one’s 
ideas endorsed by others. 

2 


18 


The Bell Haven Eight 


for it — strong,” he announced as 
one who had just reached a decision. 

The Sleeping Beauty was engaged in a 
scuffle with the boy who sat next to him, 
so he failed to hear these words. After 
order had been partially restored he rose 
to his feet. 

“IVe got an idea.” he proclaimed 
solemnly. 

^^Lock the door,” shrieked a youngster 
near the foot of the table; ^Torbes has 
an idea and we don’t want it to get 
away.” 

The rosy-cheeked one frowned in order 
to keep from laughter. 

^^My idea,” he said, “is that after we 
form the boat club we make Pinky Palmer 
president and captain of the crew.” 

A roar of approval greeted the suggestion 
and the next minute nearly all of the boys 
were on their feet cheering for one of the 
most popular boys in the school. As the 
cheers died out a broad-shouldered, dark- 
complexioned youngster at one of the other 
tables called out in a drawling voice: 

“You fellows better not count your 


The Challenge 


19 


ducks before they’re hatched. Get your 
club before you choose a captain.” 

A storm of dissent greeted this remark, 
but Pinky checked it with a wave of his 
long right arm. 

'^Greely’s perfectly right,” he declared. 

Let’s do one thing at a time.' It’s great 
to hear your cheers, but I’m willing to step 
aside in favor of any good fellow in the 
school. The big thing is to form the club, 
and I hope you’ll all attend the meeting 
tomorrow night.” 

So it came abovt that the meeting called 
for the purpose of forming the Bell Haven 
Boat Club was one of the largest gatherings 
ever held at the Academy. The thought 
of an annual boat race filled the boys with 
delight and even those who knew they 
would have no chance of getting on the 
crew were enthusiastic over the possibilities 
of the organization. Pinky Palmer called 
the boys to order and almost before he 
realized what was happening he had been 
elected president of the club and captain of 
the crew. He was flushed with pleasure 
over the honors thus thrust upon him and 


20 


The Bell Haven Eight 


when he feebly suggested that ^ome others 
should be put in nomination in order to 
test the desire of the meeting they howled 
him down. 

It was Bobby Benson, as secretary of the 
meeting, w^ho aroused the deep interest 
of the gathering. 

have here,’’ he announced, ^'a letter 
from the Cleverly Boat Club challenging 
us to a crew race on the Arlington River 
on June of next year, the exact time and 
place to be fixed by committees from the 
two schools.” 

^^What d’you know about that!” ejacu- 
lated the Sleeping Beauty, expressing the 
surprise of all the other boys. 

^^We haven’t even got a boat club yet,” 
interjected Gordon Greely. 

^^Oh, yes we have,” smilingly corrected 
Palmer from the chair. We’re fully 
organized now and ready for new business.” 

‘^That may be true,” persisted Greely; 
^^but the only thing we have to our name 
is a broken-down shack that we call a boat 
house. Why, we don’t possess a boat. 
I move that the communication be laid on 


The Challenge 


21 


the table. We can take it up some time in 
the future.’^ 

But Bobby Benson was clamoring for 
recognition. As soon as he had received it 
he called out in a loud voice: 

amend the motion by moving that we 
accept the challenge of the Cleverly crew 
and that the chairman appoint a committee 
to make the necessary arrangements.’^ 

Cries of ^^Good!” “Good!” and shouts 
of laughter greeted this unexpected declara- 
tion. Greely was on his feet in an instant, 
his dark face flushed with anger. 

“This looks like an attempt to make a 
laughing stock of Bell Haven,” he said, “ and 
if there’s any sense in this crowd it will be 
voted down. Benson knows, and everyone 
here knows, that we’re not in a position 
to accept challenges. The chances are 
that we won’t even be able to row this 
season.” 

He had scarcely finished before Bobby 
Benson mounted a chair and began address- 
ing his hearers in the fervid manner of a 
trained orator. 

“Fellows!” he cried, “are you going to let 


22 


The Bell Haven Eight 


it go out that we’re afraid to accept a 
challenge from that Cleverly crowd? 
What’s the use of saying we’re not prepared. 
The surest way of being prepared is to 
accept this challenge. We have nearly 
eight months to get ready for the race. 
If we can’t put that house in condition, get 
the necessary equipment and train a crew, 
then we’re not worthy of the traditions of 
the Bell Haven Academy.” 

Cries of “Bully for Benson!” and “You’re 
all right!” greeted this declamation. Most 
of the boys were on their feet by this time 
and the greatest confusion prevailed. 
Bobby realized his advantage and was 
quick to follow it up. 

“Boys,” he continued, “this is the op- 
portunity of a lifetime. It’s by meeting 
emergencies that you prove whether you’ve 
got sporting blood in you or not. The way 
to succeed is to say that we must be ready 
before ^June and that we must^win^this 
race.” 

“You’re talking nonsense,” screamed 
Greely. “You can’t fool the fellows with 
that hot air.” 


The Challenge 


23 


^'Can^t retorted Bobby. ^Tut the 
question, Mr. President. I move that we 
accept this challenge.’’ 

Pinky Palmer banged the desk with his 
gavel. 

'^All in favor of accepting the challenge 
of the Cleverly crew say ^Aye,’ ” he 
instructed. 

A chorus of ''ayes” went up with a force 
that made the rafters of the old building 
tremble. 

"All opposed say 'Nay.’ ” 

"No,” shouted the solitary voice of 
Gordon Greely. 

"The 'ayes’ have it,” decided Pinky, 
"and we have accepted the challenge of 
the Cleverly crew!” 


CHAPTER II 


TURNING THE TABLES 

I T was the morning after the meeting 
in the refectory, and Bobby was sunning 
himself in the school yard when the 
grinding of the wheels on the pebbly road 
leading to the main building at Bell Haven 
reminded him that Adam, the venerable 
janitor of the institution, had returned from 
the station in the famous Germantown 
wagon that had brought so many pupils 
to the Academy. 

‘^Whoa there, Maud!’’ called the driver 
to his ancient steed. Don’t you try to 
cut up any capers with the old man.’’ 

The mare showed no inclination to be 
frisky, but on the contrary cast longing eyes 
in the direction of the stable. As the team 
halted Bobby noticed that a lone boy sat 
in solitary state in the vehicle. Adam went 
to the back of the wagon, and throwing 
open the door, cried out cheerily: 

( 24 ) 


Turning the Tables 


25 


^‘Now, son, if youll get out and go up 
to that big buildin^ yonder an’ register 
you’ll be a full-fledged member of this here 
great institute of leamin’.”| 

As he spoke a slimly built boy, carrying 
a yellow suitcase, stepped out of the con- 
veyance. The newcomer paused for a 
moment, and looked about him in a startled 
manner.'^Bobby’s first impression of the 
youngster was that he was rather frail, 
and that he appeared to be timid. He had 
expressive gray eyes, a finely chiseled nose 
and a sensitive mouth. Benson instantly 
thought of the day that he had first arrived 
at Bell Haven. He remembered the feeling 
of loneliness that had overwhelmed him, 
and at the recollection his heart went out 
to the new boy. Without waiting for an 
invitation he went over to the other and 
putting out his hand with engaging frank- 
ness, said: 

^^My name’s Benson, and I want to 
welcome you to Bell Haven!” 

The tone and the manner acted like magic. 
The half startled look on the face of the 
newcomer disappeared at once and in its 


26 


The Bell Haven Eight 


place came an expression of pleasure and 
delight. 

Thank you/’ he replied. ''My name 
is Nelson James, and I’m a new boy.” 

"I didn’t think you were a very old one,” 
retorted Bobby dryly. "After you have 
reported at the office I’ll be glad to show 
you to your room and make you acquainted 
with some of the other fellows.” 

The gratitude that surged from the gray 
eyes of Nelson James more than repaid 
Bobby for his thoughtful greeting. Instinc- 
tively he felt himseK attracted to the new- 
comer. It did not require the test of time 
to satisfy him that he would find the new 
boy a congenial companion. Also he 
seemed to realize that James would need the 
protection of some one older and stronger 
than himself. He found his imagination 
picturing the events of the next few months, 
and he mentally declared that if any of the 
big fellows at the Academy attempted to 
bully the frail one, that person would have 
to reckon with Bobby Benson. It was an 
unusual state of mind for one who loved 
to be in the thick of any trouble that was 


Turning the Tables 


27 


going on, but its existence proved how 
much Bobby had grown in his first year at 
the Academy. 

At supper that night Benson introduced 
James to a score of his classmates. One 
of these was Pinky Palmer. After the 
presentation was over Bobby called his 
chum aside. 

“ Pinky, he said with unusual solemnity, 
want you to like this chap.’^ 

“Sure,’’ agreed the irrepressible one; 
“ I don’t have any trouble getting along with 
any of the fellows.” 

“But I want you to care for him in a 
special way — ^the — ^the way you care for 
me.” 

Palmer looked up with a glint of sus- 
picion in his shrewd eyes. He rubbed his 
stubby nose until it became red from the 
effort. 

“Say, Bobby,” he exclaimed finally, 
“you’re not going to get soft, are you?” 

“Certainly not,” Benson hastened to 
declare, fearing he might incur the charge 
of unmanliness, “only you may notice 
that he’s not very strong, and I don’t 


28 


The Bell Haven Eight 


want any of the big fellows to impose on 
him/’ 

“All right,” assented Pinky in a half- 
hearted way; “I guess nobody is likely to 
impose on him. But he’s got to take his 
medicine the same as you did.” 

“No, he hasn’t,” retorted Bobby warmly* 
“and the fellow that tries any rough house 
on him will have to deal with me.” 

“Gee, Benson!” cried the auburn-haired 
one, “I don’t like to hear you go on in that 
style.” 

While they were talking Gordon Greely 
sauntered along. 

“Hello, you fellows!” he cried, with an 
attempt at familiarity that was instantly 
resented by Pinky. “What’s all this 
whispering about?” 

“Not about you,” retorted the pugnacious 
Palmer. 

“So much the better for you,” was the 
irritating rejoinder. “It’s not safe to talk 
about me, even behind my back.” 

Just what Pinky would have said or 
done to this impudent challenge cannot be 
told because Bobby Benson broke into the 


Turning the Tables 


29 


conversation at this point and abruptly 
changed the subject. 

^^Greely/’ he said, suppose youVe 
met the new boy?’’ 

The broad-shouldered and dark-complex- 
ioned one paused to take a look at Nelson 
James, who was on the other side of the 
room. 

^'That kid?” he answered, jerking his 
head in the direction of the newcomer. 
‘^Sure, I’ve seen him — ^but I can’t say that 
I’m throwing any fits over him.” 

He’ll improve on acquaintance,” re- 
marked Bobby quietly. 

^^That remains to be seen,” replied the 
offensively aggressive Greely. great 

deal depends on how he takes his medicine 
tonight.” 

Bobby’s face darkened. He glared at 
the other boy’s big nose as if he would like 
to give it a pull. 

^^What do you mean?” he demanded. 

Greely, who was often morose, was now 
in high good humor. 

^^Hoity-toity,” he mimicked. ^'The 
master of the school wants to know what 


30 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the naughty boys are going to do with the 
new pupil/^ 

^ Yes,” cried Bobby, whose ire was begin- 
ning to rise, I want to know, and I^d advise 
you to cut out the funny business.” 

The change in Benson^s manner affected 
Greely. He became serious and a shade 
more aggressive. 

^^You know very well what I mean. 
Young James is going to be initiated tonight 
just the same as the other fellows in the 
school. You had to go through the mill 
and so did I and so did Palmer.” 

‘^That’s all right,” agreed Bobby, partly 
mollified, ^^but I want you to avoid the 
rough house play.” 

^^What, for instance?” 

^^Well, the blanket tossing. James canT 
stand it, and if he^s hurt it will only get 
the other boys in trouble.” 

^'So he says he canT stand it, does he?” 
sneered Greely. 

^^He doesn’t say anything of the kind,” 
cried Bobby, say it.” 

^^Oh,” drawled the irritating one, ^Hhat’s 
a different matter.” 


Turning the Tables 


31 


Maybe it is” concurred Benson with a 
note of anxiety in his tone, '^but you^re not 
going to toss him, are you?’’ 

' ^ That , ” replied the broad-shouldered 
one, drawing himself up pompously, ^'will 
be decided on at the proper time.” 

“It’s going to be decided right here and 
now!” exclaimed Bobby with that curl- 
ing of the left side of the mouth which 
marked his passionate moments. “He 
won’t be tossed in the blankets, and 
the man that attempts it will regret 
it.” 

Greely’s swarthy face became a little 
darker and a little uglier than usual. 

“You flap you’re wings like a little 
bantam,” he retorted, “but it don’t go 
with me.” 

“Are you going to give the boy a fair 
deal?” persisted Benson. 

. “Wait and see,” was the unsatisfactory 
reply, and turning on his heel Gordon 
Greely walked away. 

Pinky Palmer, who had listened to this 
conversation in silence, gazed at Bobby 
in bewilderment. He ran his hands through 


32 


The Bell Haven Eight 


his bright red curly hair and then grinned — 
a perplexed, puzzled grin. 

^'Say something, cried Benson finally. 

Didn’t I talk to him all right?” 

^^Sure,” assented the tall, thin, wiry 
fellow. ^^You needn’t be afraid of Nosey 
Greely. But what I can’t understand is 
your sudden interest in the kid. Honest,; 
you’d think he was a girl and you were in^ 
love with him.” 

“I like him — ^that’s all,” said Bobby, his 
face flushing. 

^^But you only met him today.” 

know that, but the minute I laid, my 
eyes on him I knew I could get chummy 
with him. It was a kind of instinct. 
You mix with some fellows aU your life 
and then can’t tell whether you like ’em 
or not. I can’t explain why. I only know 
it’s a fact.” 

s’pose it’s all right,” said honest 
Pinky, suppressing a sigh, ^^but I can’t 
see for the life of me why he shouldn’t 
get the third degree the same as you did.” 

^^He can and will,” replied Benson im- 
patiently, ^^but I don’t want him tossed 


Turning the Tables 


33 


in the blanket. You’ll agree to that, 
won’t you?” 

^'I’ll agree to anything you want,” con- 
ceded Palmer, putting his hand affection- 
ately on his friend’s shoulder. We’re not 
’going to scrap over a new boy — or forty 
of ’em.” 

Bobby was smiling his appreciation of 
this compliment when Nelson James joined 
them. 

Well, young one,” said Pinky patroniz- 
ingly, ^'did you know they were going to 
give you a reception tonight?” 

“Yes,” replied James with a faint smile, 
“I’ve been instructed to be here at eleven 
o’clock.” 

“Do you know what it means?” hinted 
Palmer darkly. 

The new boy nodded. 

“I suppose I’m to be hazed. I hoped 
I wouldn’t be, but if it must be, I’m ready 
for it.” 

“Good boy,” cried Pinky with involun- 
tary admiration, and giving the frail one 
a slap on the back, “that’s the way to 
talk.” 


3 


34 


The Bell Haven Eight 


'^Sometimes they^re a bit rough,” sug- 
gested Benson. don^t suppose you mind 
that?” 

James shrugged his shoulders and there 
was a slight quiver about the sides of his 
sensitive mouth. He looked up appealingly. 

“I guess I can be honest with you and 
Palmer,” he confessed. ^Ht was one of 
the things I was afraid of when I came here, 
but — ^but I’m going to grit my teeth and 
bear it.” 

That reply won the impulsive Palmer. 
For the first time he began to share Benson’s 
admiration of the new boy. 

Promptly at eleven o’clock that night 
Nelson James was escorted into the long, 
narrow room which was filled with masked 
boys. Gordon Greely sat in state in a great 
armchair and directed the proceedings. 
For more than half an hour the newcomer 
was subjected to all sort of silly tests. 
He was compelled to spell his name back- 
ward, to crawl on his hands and knees, to 
walk a chalk line and to put his neck on a 
block while a supposed executioner pre- 
tended to cut his head off. Bobby was 


Turning the Tables 


35 


present, with the others, wearing a mask and 
he viewed each succeeding bit of burlesque 
with badly concealed impatience. He had 
not liked it when he was ^^put through the 
mill,’’ as the boys called it, and he thought 
less of it now. But he did not want to be 
accused of priggishness and if his class- 
mates were discovered and punished he was 
willing to share the odium. He was think- 
ing of this when he heard the voice of 
Greely calling out: 

^^Now let the burden bearers get the big 
blanket for the final test.” 

Instantly Benson threw off his mask and 
advanced to the center of the room. 

“I think there’s a mistake,” he cried in a 
challenging tone. James’ initiation is 
over.” 

A hush went over the assemblage. The 
victim, who had edged close to Bobby, 
whispered : 

^Ht’s all right, Benson, I’m willing to 
go ahead, I don’t want you to get into a 
fight for me.” 

Bobby pushed him aside without any 
ceremony, and glared defiance at Greely. 


36 


The Bell Haven Eight 


That person pretended to ignore him and 
repeated his order. 

Bring forth the big blanket!’^ 

Four of the boys withdrew and returned 
in a minute carrying a great horse blanket. 
They opened it and a dozen others caught 
the ends in their hands. 

^^DonT any of you dare to touch James/^ 
thundered the now infuriated Benson. 

No one offered to toss the victim into the 
blanket. Pinky Palmer, who had slipped 
quietly behind Bobby, whispered : 

don^t know your game, but I’m with 
you to the finish.” 

. Gordon Greely, his face dark with rage, 
advanced down the room in the direction 
of Nelson James, who stood pale and trem- 
bling. Bobby dexterously threw himself 
between them. At that moment one of the 
boys cried out in an injured tone: 

What’s the use of spoiling the sport? 
We’ve got to toss some one.” 

You’U have some one,” cheerfully replied 
Benson. 

^AVho is it.” 

Greely!” retorted Bobby. 


Turning the Tables 


37 


The swarthy-faced one raised his arm to 
strike, but Benson deftly pushed it aside 
and planted a body blow square in the 
chest of his adversary. Before he could 
recover, the champion of frail boys had put 
out his right foot and Gordon Greely fell 
to the floor with a crash that startled the 
spectators. 

^^Now, boys!^^ panted Bobby, ^^get 
ready,” and before anyone fully realized 
what he was doing, he had stooped down 
and by a herculean effort picked up the 
heavy Greely and tossed him into the 
waiting blanket. At the same moment 
he grabbed a comer of the woolen sheet. 

^^All together, let her go,” he shrieked. 

The others bent to their task with a will 
and the discomfited Greely shot up in the 
air with a bounce. This was repeated with 
shouts of laughter and approval, and the 
third time the involuntary victim struck 
the ceiling with a thud. Again and again 
he was shot up and down imtil the boys 
were exhausted from their labors. Finally 
Bobby gave the command. 

“Drop him!” 


38 


The Bell Haven Eight 


They obeyed and Greely fell to the floor, 
bruised and sore, and almost unconscious. 
Benson did not wait, but nodded to Palmer 
and James and the three of them left the 
hall together. The new boy was startled at 
the unexpected conclusion of the initiation, 
but Pinky glanced at his friend with admira- 
tion beaming from his wide-open eyes. 

^^What do you call it, Bobby?^’ he asked. 

^^That,^^ said Benson grimly, “is a new 
game that IVe invented. It^s called 
'Turning the Tables.^ ” 


CHAPTER III 


FACING THE MUSIC \ 

F or days after the adventure in the 
refectory the Bell Haven boys were 
. in constant expectation of a personal 
conflict between Gordon Greely and Bobby 
Benson. Gordon was by no means popular, 
but he was nearly the tallest chap at the 
Academy, and the younger ones had a whole- 
some fear of his broad shoulders and well- 
developed muscles. The indignity that had 
been put upon him was more than the 
mildest mannered boy could be expected 
to stand, and the swarthy-complexioned 
one had a temper that was difficult to 
control. 

But, curious to say, nothing happened. 
Bobby shared the general feeling that 
Greely would try to ‘‘get even’^ with him, 
and that made him more watchful than 
usual. He was prepared to fight, if neces- 
sary, but he had no desire to do so if it 

( 39 ) 


40 


The Bell Haven Eight 


could be avoided. For the first twenty-four 
hours the offensively aggressive one smarted 
under his humiliation, and every time he 
came in the vicinity of Benson his fists 
seemed nervously eager for the fray. He 
did not take the bouncing in the blanket 
to heart. That part of the punishment 
was part of school life. But he did resent 
the way in which his importance had been 
belittled before a roomful of boys. By the 
end of the second day the fire of his revenge- 
ful desire had burned very low, and before 
the week ended it was merely ashes. 

Bobby had, somehow, understood the 
struggle that was going on in Greely^s 
heart, and he sympathized with him. He 
did not regret what he had done, and yet 
he would not have blamed the other boy in 
the least if he had jumped on him in the yard 
and pummeled him to his hearths content. 
But Greely had evidently conquered his 
passion by this time and even shown a shy 
desire to be friendly. Bobby observed this 
and determined to meet him half way. • 

^^Say, Gordon,’’ he remarked one morn- 
ing, “did you ever row a boat?” 


Facing the Music 


41 


Certainly/’ replied the broad-shouldered 
one suspiciously. ^^Why do you ask that 
question?” 

“Nothing,” was the boyish response, 
“’cept that I thought if we got the boat 
club organized that we’d like fellows of your 
kind on the crew.” 

“Do you really mean that if you were 
the captain that you’d take me?” asked the 
still skeptical Greely. 

“Sure, you’re just the sort to make a 
good oarsman.” 

Greely was silent for many moments. 
When he spoke, finally, it was in a halting, 
embarrassed manner. 

“I’m sorry, Bobby, that I’ve been think- 
ing wrong about you — ^I thought you 
didn’t like me.” 

Benson laughed. He gave the big fellow 
a vigorous slap on his broad back. 

“I haven’t a thing against any boy in the 
school. I’ve had one or two rackets with 
you, but it’s not because I don’t like you. 
It’s because I don’t like some of the things 
you do. Now if youVe reformed I'm ready 
to take you to my arms,” 


42 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Greely smiled at this deliverance, even 
though it did put him in the position of 
appearing before Bobby in sackcloth and 
ashes. Besides, his bump of inquisitiveness 
was troubling him. 

^^Say, Bobby,’’ he asked, ^'how did you 
ever make out about the boat club? Has 
Doctor Maury 0. K.’d it?” 

A look of real concern came into Benson’s 
eyes. He ran his fingers through his 
rumpled brown hair. 

wish I knew,” he confessed. ''He 
only got home last night and I’ve been 
wondering ever since just how he would 
take it. In some ways he’s the most 
lenient man I ever met, and in others he’s 
the most terrible. If he should get one of 
his fits on there’s no telling what he might 
do about this matter.” 

"Here’s Tiberius Brown coming over — 
maybe he can give you a pointer.” 

Benson raised his eyes and saw the 
Professor approaching. Tiberius, who was 
the assistant to the head master, was a 
very homely man. He looked more so 
on this particular occasion. He was tall. 


Facing the Music 


48 


thin and raw-boned. He wore his customary 
tight-fitting black frock coat, the short 
sleeves of which exposed his wrists and made 
him look taller and thinner than he really 
was. He seemed quite solenrn as he drew 
near the boys. 

'^Benson,’’ he called, nodding to Bobby, 
‘‘Vd like to speak to you.^^ 

The boy hurried over to his side, wonder- 
ing what this summons could mean. 

“What do you want?’^ he asked. 

Tiberius, who had become fond of Bobby, 
smiled sadly. 

“I donT want anything, but Doctor 
Maury wishes to see you in a hurry. I 
donT know what it is about, but I’m afraid 
that it concerns this boat club business. 
The doctor does — does not seem to be in 
the best of humor and if I were you, Benson, 
I should be careful how I spoke to him. 
I suggest this only for your own good.” 

“All right. Professor!” cried Bobby with 
forced gayety. “I’m much obliged to 
you for the tip, but I guess the best thing 
for me to do is to make a clean breast of 
the whole business.” 


44 


The Bell Haven Eight 


truthful/’ exclaimed the Professor, 
in a high, shrill voice. It’s not only right, 
but it’s the best policy besides. Evasion 
never really pays, my boy, and as you go 
through life you will discover the truth of 
what I say. You may get out of a difficulty 
temporarily by lying, but you can rest 
assured that you are piling up worse trouble 
for the future.” 

“Do you want any support?” taunted 
Greely as Benson started off in the direction 
of the President’s office. 

“No,” he flung back, nettled at the 
intimation of timidity, “I’m always willing 
to stand for what I do — ^I hope you can do 
as much if you ever get in trouble.” 

Dr. Maury was seated in the armchair 
in front of his desk, with his hands twined 
behind his head when Bobby entered the 
room. 

“Hello, Benson!” he saluted. “What 
have you been trying to do while I was 
away?” 

“I — ^I don’t know that I quite understand 
you?” answered the boy sparring for time. 
^ “I mean abou]b this boat club/’ was the 


Facing the Music 


45 


retort in a somewhat sharper tone. “Tell 
me just what you have done and why you 
did it.’’ 

“Well,” said Bobby, ^^we just formed a 
boat club.” 

“By ^we’ I suppose you mean Palmer 
and yourself?” 

“Yes, sir — ^no, sir — ^that is to say, I 
don’t know, sir!” cried the confused boy. 

“Of course you admit that you are 
responsible for it.” 

“Oh, certainly, sir,” agreed Benson with 
a gasp of relief. 

“Well,” pursued the doctor, “I’m not 
altogether certain that you are. I’m sure 
you couldn’t have done it alone, so I have 
sent for Palmer.” 

“I hope you don’t think I’m trying to 
put the blame on Palmer,” stammered 
Bobby. 

“I’m not thinking at all,” was the 
pleasant rejoinder. “I’m after the facts — 
after that I may turn the matter over in 
my mind.” 

“But — ” began the boy. 

“Never mind,” interrupted the president; 


46 


The Bell Haven Eight 


^^here^s Palmer now. He can speak for 
himself. 

Pinky came into the room, his eyes 
expanding with surprise. The sight of 
Bobby on the rack did not reassure him. 
But he faced the ordeal with a show of 
indifference. He nodded to Dr. Maury 
and began to rub his nose with a vigor 
which was characteristic of him in moments 
of emotion. 

^^Ah, Palmer/’ said the inquisitor, strok- 
ing his square-cut jaw, maybe you can 
throw some light on this mystery. I want 
to know who was responsible for the meeting 
which resulted in the formation of a boat 
club at Bell Haven.” 

was,” acknowledged Pinky without a 
moment’s hesitation. 

'^You were?” 

'^Yes, sir. I had the circulars calling 
for the meeting typewritten and tacked 
them on the trees around the Academy 
grounds. Benson there caught me while 
I was doing it.” 

The head of the school turned to Benson 
and said in a tone of severity : 


Facing the Music 


47 


Why didn’t you tell me you saw Palmer 
posting the notices?” 

‘^You — ^you never asked me that ques- 
tion.” 

The doctor leaned back in his chair and 
began to stroke his square jaw again in a 
reflective manner. When he spoke a little 
later he addressed his remarks to Palmer. 
He spoke slowly and with apparent delibera- 
tion. 

can’t say that I am opposed to a 
boat club at Bell Haven. We had one here 
some years ago, and it was a good one. I 
think it is a manly and a wholesome sport. 
When I was a young man at college I was 
the stroke oar on our crew and the knowl- 
edge of our success is one of my pleasant 

memories. But ” 

thought there’d be a ‘but!’ ” blurted 
Bobby involuntarily. 

It was a slip of the tongue. He could 
have bitten off the end of that useful 
member the moment the word came from 
his mouth. But it was too late and apologies 
or explanations would only have made a bad 
situation worse. So he stood there silent 


48 


The Bell Haven Eight 


and abashed and waited for the expected 
censure. But it did not come. The 
doctor had stiffened with surprise when he 
heard the exclamation, but beyond that 
almost imperceptible sign he gave no 
indication that he had noticed the offending 
words. 

''But,’^ he continued, while the sport 
is commendable and a boat club is desirable, 
there remains the question of expediency. 
It may cause the boys to neglect their studies 
and then it would be a misfortune. You 
know, Benson, that several of the students 
that played on your baseball team flunked 
terribly in their examinations.’^ 

know that, sir,” said Bobby eagerly; 
“but if you examine the records of those 
boys I’m sure you will agree that they 
would have fallen down anyhow. I got a 
good average and so did Palmer.” 

Dr. Maury nodded as though dismissing 
that phase of the subject. 

“Another feature of the business is its 
cost. The Academy cannot be called 
wealthy. The boat house has fallen into 
such a state of decay that it is practically 


Facing the Music 


49 


useless. We have some rowing machines 
in the gymnasium that would answer for 
practice, but you would need barges for 
preliminary work on the river and finally 
shells for the race — ^if there is such a 

thing ” 

^‘But,’’ began Pinky, 

The head of the school held up a restrain- 
ing hand. 

“What I have said,^’ he continued, “is 
merely incidental. The grave question 
is why did you form this club without 
obtaining my permission? Is there to be 
no such thing as authority in this school? 
If you had gone about it in the proper 
way I might have approved it, but now how 
can you expect me to do any such thing?^^ 
Pinky^s freckled face was flushed until 
it was almost the color of his hair. The 
fear that their organization was going to be 
condenmed made him weak in the knees. 
He stood there staring stupidly at the 
president. 

“Well!’^ thundered the head of the 
Academy, “why don’t you speak? Why 
did you do this without my permission?” 


50 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Palmer swallowed hard once or twice and 
then moistened his lips with the tip of his 
tongue. 

'^I^m — ^I^m trying to think of how I can 
tell you without making you angry/’ he 
stammered. “I — that is, we — ^were very 
anxious to have the boat club and we — 
that is, I — ^was afraid that you might not 
approve it. I thought of the very arguments 
you used today and felt that if we talked 
with you first that you would sit down on 
it — that is, not authorize it. So I made up 
my mind that I’d organize the club first 
and ask your permission afterward — and 
that’s the whole truth, sir.” 

Dr. Maury got up and walked to the 
window to hide a smile that was lurking 
about the corners of his mouth. When he 
returned he had recovered his com- 
posure. 

^^Do you think that was the dignified 
and proper thing to do?” he demanded. 

^^No — ^no, sir,” acknowledged Pinky halt- 
ingly;” then in a sudden burst of defiance, 
^^but I thought it was the only way to 
succeed.” 


Facing the Music 


51 


Again the president was forced to exercise 
all of his self-control to repress that desire 
to smile. When he spoke it was in a 
milder tone. 

suppose, Benson, you are equally 
culpable with Palmer.’’ 

Yes, sir,” quickly agreed Bobby; we’re 
in the same boat. We’re willing to be 
punished, but I hope you won’t forbid the 
boat club.” 

Dr. Maury took several turns around 
the room before replying. 

won’t forbid it,” he said finally, ^^but 
I can’t say that I am enthusiastic over it. 
Now in return for my permission to go 
ahead you must promise me that it shall 
not interfere with your studies and that 
you will contrive in your own way to 
finance the business.” 

“We promise!” they cried in chorus. 

“That’s all,” said the doctor, turning 
abruptly to his work. 

Bobby and Pinky each grabbed one of 
his hands and effusively thanked him for 
his kindness. As they left the room they 
noticed a smile playing over his usually 


52 


The Bell Haven Eight 


grave countenance. Once they gained the 
outside Benson turned to Palmer. 

^^Say, Pinky/^ he exclaimed, ^^he^s a 
regular brick!’’ 

^^You bet he is.” 

^^How do you account for it?” 

^^Easy enough,” replied the sagacious 
one. ^^He was once a boy himself.” 

On the way to their room both boys 
thought very seriously of the financial 
problem that would have to be faced in 
connection with the organization of the 
boat club. They felt sure that most of 
the pupils at the school would join and be 
willing to pay a moderate tax. But that 
would not much more than pay the running 
expenses of the club, much less furnish 
them with a house and the equipment 
necessary for their purposes. 

Once in the room Pinky threw himself 
back in a morris chair and ran his fingers 
through his red hair in comical perplexity. 
It was Bobby who broke the long silence. 

“Say, Pinky,” he said, “do you know 
that you told Dr. Maury that you would 
be able to finance this proposition?” 


Facing the Music 


53 


“Of course I do/’ retorted the usually 
sanguine one with a trace of irritability 
in his voice. “You don’t think I’ve lost 
my memory, do you?” 

“No; only I was wondering if you hadn’t 
bitten off more than you could chew. Do 
you think you can get away with it? Do 
you think you can raise enough money in 
time to get a crew in shape for the race 
with Cleverly?” 

“Of course I do.” 

“How?” cried Bobby in a challenging 
tone. 

“Blamed if I know!” confessed Pinky 
with a shrill laugh that was anything but 
mirthful. 


CHAPTER IV 


THE OLD BOAT HOUSE 

HE morning after the interview with 



Dr. Maury Bobby and Pinky deter- 


mined to take a look at the old boat 
house that was to be the foundation of the 
material side of the Bell Haven boat club. 
They found it near the water^s edge on a 
plot of ground that bordered the dividing 
line between Bell Haven and Burlingham. 
The president of the school had not exag- 
gerated when he said the building was in a 
state of decay. It looked, indeed, as 
though it were ready to fall into the water 
and to float away. 

But a closer inspection of the wooden 
structure proved that it was in better 
condition than appeared to the casual 
observer. The lower portion of the house 
contained two well constructed brackets 
for holding shells. At the ends were racks 
and lockers for oars and other equipment 


( 54 ) 


The Old Boat House 


55 


used by members of a boat crew. The 
upper floor contained a spacious apartment 
that had evidently once been used as a 
sort of living room. Beyond this was a 
series of smaller rooms fitted up as locker 
rooms, shower baths and a work-shop. 

A moldy smell pervaded the place and 
cobwebs decorated the ceilings of most of 
the rooms. The steps leading to the house 
were rotten from age, while the shutters 
were half falling off the hinges. But, 
singular to state, the floors, rafters and roof 
were in an excellent state of preservation. 
Probably the fact that they were built of 
another kind of wood had something to do 
with their condition. Anyhow, the boys 
were pleased with their observations. 

^^Say, Bobby, exclaimed Pinky, 
believe this place can be put in fairly decent 
condition for a few hundred dollars.’’ 

^^Sure,” agreed the sanguine Benson; 
what it needs most of all is a coat of paint.” 

Suppose we get estimates on repairing 
it.” 

^^What!” cried Bobby, without a dollar 
to our name?” 


56 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Certainly; I the president and you Ve 
the secretary of the Bell Haven boat club. 
WeVe got to act the part. We mustn^t 
act poor. The world never has any time 
for a man that makes a poor mouth. 
We’U go to a couple of carpenters and build- 
ers and get ’em to look this shack over.” 

That afternoon they called on a small 
contractor in Burlingham and asked him 
to examine the house and to tell them how 
much he would charge to put the woodwork 
in good condition and to paint the building. 
He was informed that they wanted him to 
make a first-class job of it, but that he 
would have to cut his prices to the very 
bone if he expected to get the work. Finally, 
as a warning, they told him, that another 
contractor in Cleverly had also been invited 
to bid. 

Michael Morrison had been a builder for 
many years, but he had never before met 
such interesting customers. He was amused 
at their earnestness and when they threat- 
ened him with the opposition of the Cleverly 
contractor he smiled until he displayed a 
set of gold teeth. 


The Old Boat House 


57 


“Boys/^ he said in his genial way, 
want this job. I don’t care much whether 
I make anything on it or not, but I don’t 
propose to let the Cleverly man get the 
best of me. I’ll bid so low that he won’t 
have a look-in.” 

“Of course,” remarked Bobby with a 
brave attempt at a worldly manner, “while 
we expect you to do the best you can, we 
don’t want you to lose money on the job.” 

The contractor stifled a desire to laugh 
and replied in a jocular manner: 

“There are some things worth more than 
money. It will mean something to me to 
be able to say that I built the Bell Haven 
Boat Club House. Suppose you win the 
boat race? Why then I’ll feel that I’ve got 
a right to share in the glory, won’t I?” 

“ Yes !” exclaimed Pinky eagerly. “Why, 
I think I can have you elected an honorary 
member of the club — ^that is, if we decide 
to have honorary members.” 

“All right,” laughed Mr. Morrison, “I’ll 
make it a point to go over and examine the 
house tomorrow afternoon and after that 
I’ll put in the lowest bid possible.” 


58 


The Bell Haven Eight 


“ How soon can you have the work done?’^ 
asked Pinky. 

The contractor rubbed his chin with 
the back of his hand and thought for a 
while. 

. can’t say exactly until I know just 
what there is to be done, but l should [think 
that the house would be ready for you in a 
month.” 

'^Very well, let us have your bid as soon 
as you can.” 

With that Pinky sallied forth, followed 
by Bobby, both of them doing their best 
to look like real business men. 

^^Say, Pinky,” remarked Benson in an 
awed sort of whisper, “I feel awfully queer.” 

^^What’sjthe matter — sick?” asked the 
other in some alarm. 

^^No, no, my health was never better. 
It’s not that. It’s this business we’re 
engaged in. I can’t get used to ordering 
a man to do a lot of work without having 
a cent to pay for it.” 

Pahner laughed at his scrupulous friend. 

''It’s all right, Bobby. The trouble is 
that you do^^t understand business. If 


r 


The Old Boat House 59 


x 

men in the world waited to get the money 
before they had ^hings done there’d be 
precious little done. Besides, we haven^t 
ordered the work yet. Ill promise you 
that well map out some plan for raising 
money before ^we direct the contractor to 
go ahead.” 

^^But will he do it without being sure of 
his cash?” 

^'Sure,” replied the confident Palmer; 

our credit^s good. That^s how the business 
of the world is done — on credit.” 

That night Pinky called a meeting in his 
room for the purpose of devising ways and 
means for raising money for the boat house. 
A dozen or fifteen of the most energetic 
boys in the school attended. Pinky pre- 
sided and Bobby acted as secretary. The 
situation was briefly explained and sugges- 
tions invited. 

'^How would a fair do?” piped Tony 
Brill. 

Throw him out the window,” suggested 
one of the smaller boys. ^^He thinks this is 
a mother^s meeting in aid of foreign mis- 
sions.” 


60 


The Bell Haven Eight 


just wanted to set the ball rolling/’ 
protested Tony, ^^and if you have anything 
better, Mister Smarty, let’s have it.” 

^'How about a dance?” asked Nelson 
James. 

^'Nothing doing!” declared Bobby with 
a wave of his hand. ^^Dr. Maury would 
never stand for anything like that.” 

There was silence for some moments and 
then the Sleeping Beauty gave evidence of 
having an idea. He struggled to his feet 
with an effort. 

'^Fellows,” he cried, ^H’ve got something 
so good that its going to take your breath 
away.” 

^^What is it?” came in chorus from the 
others. 

'^Julius Caesar,” was the solemn rejoinder. 

Julius Caesar!” echoed Pinky. “Why, 
what in the world do you mean by that?” 

“Just what, I say,” retorted Forbes. 
“I was talking to Mike Murray the other 
day and he told me he had a copy of a 
burlesque on Julius Caesar that was pro- 
duced in his college days. It’s a scream 
and if we play it for a couple of nights at 


The Old Boat House 


61 


one of the halls in town we’ll make more 
than enough to put this boat club on its 
feet — ^if you can put a boat club on its 
feet.” 

^^That sounds good to me,” admitted 
Pinky; ^‘but can we get away with it? 
Have we got the talent? And it means 
rehearsals and all that sort of thing.” 

“Don’t let that worry you,” chimed in 
the Sleeping Beauty. “I’ve had some 
experience with amateur theatricals and 
I’m willing to tackle the job.” 

There was more discussion along this 
line and it was finally decided that the boys 
should undertake the production of Julius 
Caesar for the benefit of the boat club. 

The following morning Pinky Palmer 
received two communications. The first 
was from Michael Morrison, the Burling- 
ham contractor, who offered to make the 
necessary changes in the boat house and 
give it two coats of paint, all for the sum 
of $980.50. He specified just what he 
proposed to do and enclosed a plan showing 
a five-foot extension of the lower fioor of 
the boat house. The second letter was from 


62 


The Bell Haven Eight 


a Cleverly builder who had been invited 
to bid and who wrote that he would do 
the work for $1,400. The difference in 
price was so great that the boys lost no 
time in deciding in favor of Michael Mor- 
rison. Besides that, Pinky had a feeling 
that he would make the changes in a way 
that would be pleasing to all concerned. 

A second conference was held in Pinky^s 
room that night and at its conclusion a 
letter was despatched to the contractor, 
instructing him to call for the purpose of 
making the final arrangements to go on 
with the work. 

^'Now, boys,” declared Pinky, ^‘iPs up 
to us to raise a thousand dollars.” 

Michael Morrison came to Bell Haven 
two days later and the papers awarding the 
contract were duly signed. There was a 
twinkle in his sky-blue eyes as he said: 

^'Boys, IVe bound myself to do my part, 
but how am I to know that I will get my 
money when the work is finished?” 

Pinky's face assumed a troubled look. 

^'Do you want a guarantee? If you do 
maybe I can get Dr. Maury?” 


The Old Boat House 


63 


you think he will sign a paper to 
that effect?’’ 

The worried look on the boy’s face 
became more pronounced. He remembered 
that the president had distinctly disavowed 
all financial responsibility. 

“ I — could see him,” he said hesitatingly. 

Morrison burst into a hearty laugh. He 
clapped Pinky on the shoulder with his 
big palm. 

don’t want any pledge except your 
own,” he cried cheerily, “and you needn’t 
put that in writing either. I believe in 
you boys and I’m going to see this thing 
through. I’ll be perfectly satisfied if I 
come out whole on the contract.” 

It was nearly dusk when Bobby and Pinky 
accompanied the big-hearted Irishman to 
the old boat house for the purpose of taking 
another view of the premises. The place 
was deserted, as usual, and it gave forth the 
damp odor peculiar to unoccupied houses. 
The contractor pointed out the bit of ground 
that he proposed to utilize in extending the 
place. 

“This will give you from five to ten feet 


64 


The Bell Haven Eight 


additional/’ he said, ^^and it may be found 
useful when you come to put away your 
sheUs.” 

They went inside after that and while 
they were there Pinky thought he heard 
some one else come into the building. He 
retraced his steps and went to the rear of 
the house, but, to his surprise, found no 
one. 

must be getting nervous,” he grinned 
to Bobby. 'H’m beginning to hear things 
that never happened.” 

They resumed their walk through the 
cobwebbed rooms. As they talked Pinky 
thought he saw some one peeping in the 
window. He hurried over to that part of 
the house, but no one was in sight. A 
little later Michael Morrison bade them 
good-bye and the boys returned to the 
Academy. 

“Say, Bobby,” remarked Pinky with an 
attempt at a careless laugh, “If I wasn’t 
blessed with common sense I’d swear that 
that old boat house was haunted.” 


I 


CHAPTER V 


“JULIUS C^SAR^^ 

W ITHINiforty-eight hours after sign- 
ing the contract for the rejuve- 
nated boat house the Bell Haven 
boys secured the manuscript of “Julius 
Caesar from Mike Murray, made arrange- 
ments to have the costumes sent from 
Hedgewater, and were industriously rehears- 
ing the play. It proved to be a congenial 
task. Forbes, who had once acted in a 
Sunday-school performance, and thereby 
gained the reputation of being a real actor, 
was by common consent placed in charge 
of the show. He had to assign the boys to 
their parts, direct the rehearsals, build the 
scenery and help generally in bringing order 
out of chaos. He did it all with a cheer- 
fulness that was contagious and that helped 
greatly in making the affair a success. 

His greatest difficulty was in “ casting 
the play. All of the boys wanted to do the 

J5 ( 65 ) 

4 


66 


The Bell Haven Eight 


part of Mark Antony because it gave an 
opportunity of spouting Antony’s famous 
address to the Romans. It was finally 
assigned to Bobby Benson because Bobby 
had distinguished himself in an elocution 
contest earlier in the session. Pinky Palmer 
was told to do the character of Cassius, 
Gordon Greely that of Brutus, Tony Brill 
the first citizen and Nelson James the 
second citizen. The Sleeping Beauty appro- 
priated the part of Csesar to himself. 
Adam, the janitor, who claimed that he 
had witnessed seventeen performances of 
the great Shakesperian play, and who was 
an interested spectator at the first rehearsal, 
intimated that a thinner boy could do the 
part better. 

You’re too fat for Csesar,” he said. 
^^I’ve seen all of the great actors that ever 
played that part, and none of ’em were fat 
men.” 

'^That’s where you’re wrong, Adam,” 
laughingly retorted Forbes. I’m depicting 
the old warrior when he had become old, 
and all great men, as they become old, 
grow fat. Besides, Pinky and Greely and 


“Julius Caesar’^ 


67 


all the other fellows have to stab me to 
death, and it’s easier to stab a fat man than 
it is a thin one. I’m not so fat anyhow. 
If I was any thinner these ginks would 
miss me altogether.” 

Adam shook his head to show his dis- 
approval. He had his own traditions of 
the stage, and he did not propose to have 
them shaken by a boy. 

“I tell you, son,” he insisted, “this 
Caesar was a noble and kingly chap, and 
people won’t know him as a fat, dumpty 


\ fellow.” 

i “Adam’s right,” interjected Pinky 
Palmer, who had difficulty in keeping a 

I straight face as he talked. “I once read a 
life of Caesar and it said that his face was 
pale from study. Your face isn’t pale, and 
you don’t study anyhow. I’m afraid you’ll 
have to play one of the mob.” 

“Nix on the mob,” grinned Forbes. 
“I’ll play Caesar or there won’t be any 
play. A little powder on the face will 
make me pale enough to suit anybody. 
^ As for the study part, I guess you fellows 
are not wearing any medals.” 


t. 


68 


The Bell Haven Eight 


It was decided that the performances 
should be given in the Red Men^s Hall 
at Bell Haven. The stage was not large, 
but the Sleeping Beauty said that he would 
just as soon be murdered there as anywhere 
else. Posters were printed and lavishly 
distributed in Bell Haven, Cleverly and 
Burlingham. Advance notices were also 
published in the local papers, and long 
before the night of the first performance 
there was a large sale of tickets. 

^HPs going to be a financial success,^^ 
cried Bobby Benson, greatly elated, ^^and 
it is now up to us to see that we donT fall 
down on the artistic side. You fellows will 
have to work as if your lives depended on 
the result. 

Forbes soon discovered that he had a 
pretty big job on his hands. It was hard 
work to drill the boys in their respective 
parts. In the first place, some of the 
characters had great difficulty in memorizing 
their lines, and when they had succeeded 
in that they did not seem to have any clear 
conception of the business that went with 
the parts. There was trouble with the 


“Julius Cassar’’ 


69 


scenery too. The only set at the Red Men^s 
Hall was the representation of a parlor 
and the exterior of a farmhouse. 

“We can never have the immortal Caesar 
assassinated in a farmhouse/^ exclaimed 
Forbes in mock despair. “Just imagine 
the dying soldier looking around and having 
his gaze rest on a marble-topped center 
table containing a glass case filled with 
artificial fruit, and then turning on his 
other side with a groan only to be confronted 
with a motto reading: ^We shall meet 
beyond the river.’ No, it will never do. 
The exterior is worse. I refuse to fall dead 
in front of a barn with ducks and chickens 
running across the stage. There is only 
one thing to do. We’ll have to build a 
scene showing the statue of Pompey and 
the front of the Senate at Rome.” 

“That’s easier said than done,” retorted 
Benson. “How are we going to do it?” 

“It’s a cinch!” exclaimed Forbes. “AH 
I want is about forty yards of canvas and 
a big pot of paint. If I can’t get up a 
picture of the Senate of Rome in a day and 
a night I’ll eat my rubber shoes.” 


70 


The Bell Haven Eight 


“Is that the only scene you need?’’ 
queried Pinky. ‘ 

“Sure, that’s the only big one. We open 
with a street in ancient Rome. That’s 
easy. The Red Men have left a strip of 
canvas here that will make a bully street. 
It may look like Main Street in Burlingham, 
with the lock-up in the distance, but what’s 
the difference? All streets look alike. 
Besides, I’ll bet my shirt that we won’t 
have two people in the house that ever saw 
a street in ancient Rome.” 

“You win that bet, Forbes,” cried Pinky. 
“Now what comes next?” 

“After we shift the street we have the 
great forum scene — ^you know the scene in 
front of the Senate. That gives us the full 
depth of the Red Men’s stage; and finally 
we have the great battlefield when Mark 
Antony and his friends and fellow citizens 
make Brutus and Cassius and the other 
four-flushers look like tin horns.” 

“But how in the world do you get the 
battlefield when you have just used the 
entire stage for the forum scene.” 

“Say!” exclaimed the Sleeping Beauty 


“Julius Caesar” 


71 


in a disgusted voice, “what do you want, 
a diagram? It^s as simple as falling off a 
log. We darken the house for a moment, 
push off the statue of Pompey, which is on 
rollers, take away the canvas representation 
of the Senate House and substitute for it a 
set of green trees. The Red Men have 
been good enough to leave us the trees, 
and I guess good Bell Haven trees are just 
the same as the Romans used several 
thousand years ago. Now, you bonehead, 
do you get that through your skull?” 

“Yes, thank you,” replied Palmer with 
mock humility. 

Finally, after many hours of anxious 
preparation, the night of the first perform- 
ance arrived. The hall was crowded, and 
nearly everybody seemed determined to 
have an enjoyable evening. Boys from the 
Academy acted as ushers, and it was con- 
ceded that the preliminary part of the affair 
was splendidly managed. An orchestra, 
made up of students from Bell Haven, 
furnished music which was highly creditable 
for amateurs. There was an air of eager 
expectancy on all sides. The audience was 


72 


The Bell Haven Eight 


distinctly friendly and it was plain to be 
seen that most of the spectators had come 
prepared to like whatever might be pre- 
sented to them. After the overture had been 
finished there was an awkward pause of 
some minutes during which the sound of 
hammering could be heard from behind the 
curtain. The orchestra, to fill in the gap, 
played a ragtime selection which was loudly 
applauded by the audience and helped to 
put everybody in good humor. 

Presently there was the tinkle of a bell 
and the curtain ascended. The sight that 
presented itself was greeted with a roar 
of laughter. And no wonder! A group of 
Roman citizens was discovered talking 
and gesticulating in an animated manner. 
It is to be presumed that the setting was 
intended to represent a street in ancient 
Rome, but it looked strikingly modern. 
The scene depicted a row of houses and 
stores. In front of one of them — ^painted 
on the canvas — ^was an automobile of the 
vintage of 1914. Not far away a trolley 
car could be seen winding its way around a 
corner, and as if to make the spectacle still 


“Julius Caesar” 


73 


more ludicrous a large arc light threw its 
rays upon the scene. One of the painted 
houses was a restaurant and the signs it 
displayed called attention to the fact that 
diners there could obtain “Philadelphia 
Scrapple” and “Fresh New Jersey Sau- 
sage.” 

Thus before a line had been spoken the 
audience had entered into the spirit of 
the travesty. Some of the boys imper- 
sonated Roman women, and they were 
attired in. hobble skirts and slit dresses 
that displayed stockings of the barber-pole 
design. The men wore derby hats and silk 
tiles, and talked in the vernacular of the 
present day. One of the “citizens” was 
delivering a harangue against Caesar. 

“What meat doth this, our Caesar, feed 
upon that he hath grown so great?” he 
demanded. 

“Ham and eggs,” suggested an obliging 
member of the mob. 

Another, who was dressed to represent a 
dude of the present era, pointed a cane 
languidly in the direction of the sign that 
exploited the merits of Jersey sausage. 


74 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Presently, Pinky Palmer, as the lean and 
envious Cassius, came upon the scene. He 
wore a straw hat with a feather in the side, 
and sported a striped red and white blazer 
and yellow shoes. He carried a wooden 
spear twice as tall as himself. The uproar 
that greeted his entrance continued for 
several minutes. As it subsided Gordon 
Greely as Brutus entered. He was made up 
in a villainous manner, and had a long black 
chin whisker. A vividly red shirt was only 
partly concealed by a crazy quilt which 
he tossed over one shoulder and handled 
as though it were a toga. 

Hello he cried in a surprised tone to 
Cassius. “What are you doing in Bell 
Haven?’’ 

“I came up to see the football game,” 
answered his fellow conspirator in the most 
nonchalant manner. 

“Hist!” whispered Brutus mysteriously. 
“I’ve got great news.” 

“Wliat is it?” asked Cassius eagerly. 
“Have the Giants won a world’s series?” 

The honorable Roman shook his head 
disgustedly. 


“Julius Caesax’^ 


75 


“I promised you no miracle — said 
news/’ 

“What ’ist?” inquired the lean and 
hungry one, lapsing into broken Roman. 

“Julius is here!” exclaimed the other, 
watching intently to note the effect of his 
words. 

“How do you know?” 

“I did but see him a few moments ago 
banqueting sumptuously at yonder quick 
lunch emporium.” 

“I ’spose he’s all swelled up with his own 
pomposity. That fellow has the biggest 
head of any man in Bell Haven.” 

“Ha! ha!” hissed • the old politician. 
“But we have taken means to reduce the 
swelling.” 

“Mayhap! Mayhap!” agreed the other. 
“But I am told that thrice he was tendered 
the post of Burgess of Bell Haven and that 
thrice he did refuse the crown.” 

“That was but a bluff to catch the 
Mugwump vote,” insisted Brutus. 

The conspirators parted with the under- 
standing that they would meet again in 
front of the Senate House. The citizens 


76 


The Bell Haven Eight 


withdrew in some disorder, after which 
the street scene was shifted, and the 
audience found itself gazing at the much 
discussed statue of Pompey. It was nothing 
more or less than a cigar store Indian, and 
at the sight of it the audience broke into 
unrestrained merriment. This had scarcely 
ceased when Csesar came on the stage. His 
make-up added to the general hilarity. 
He carried an immense shield and a rusty 
sword and his head-piece was an inverted 
tureen. Cassius and Brutus followed 
immediately after, and after some smart 
repartee everybody joined in an attack 
upon the hapless warrior who fell to the 
floor screaming that he had been stabbed. 
He looked up sadly and murmured: 

Where am I?’^ 

“You are on the stage of the Red Men’s 
Hall in Bell Haven,” answered the obliging 
Cassius. 

The stricken dictator looked imploringly 
at Brutus and murmured : 

“Brutus, I never thought you’d hit a 
fellow under the shield.” 

In the midst of this Mark Antony appears 



Cassius and Brutus Followed Immediately 






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^‘Julius Caesar’’ 


77 


on the scene attired as a member of the 
Cleverly fire department, and begins his 
oration over the body of Caesar. 

^'Friends, Romans, countrymen’^ — ^he be- 
gan, but immediately there were cries from 
the conspirators protesting against being 
called countrymen. 

In the general hubbub that followed the 
house was darkened, the scene was shifted 
and all of the characters found themselves 
on the field of battle. There was a mock 
conflict and the scene closed amid the 
clashing of pokers and swords against the 
brass shield of the unfortunate Brutus. 
The curtain dropped finally amid the 
laughter and tumultuous applause of the 
audience. 

The show was over, and it was voted a 
complete success, not only by the friendly 
auditors, but also by each one of the 
actors. 


y 


CHAPTER VI 


THE WORM TURNS 

HE second night^s performance of 



the great Shakespearian travesty 


was just as successful as the first 
and when the receipts were counted and 
the expenses deducted it was found that 
the net profits amounted to eleven hundred 
dollars. To say that the boys were delighted 
but feebly expresses their feelings. The 
fund was large enough to pay for the im- 
provements on the boat house and to leave 
a balance of over a hundred dollars. 

On the strength of this Pinky felt that 
he was justified in rounding up the pro- 
spective oarsmen, from which the crews 
could afterward be selected. So a call was 
sent out for volunteers, and before the 
evening of the second day no less than 
seventy-seven boys had presented them- 
selves. At the outset one hard and fast 
rule was adopted. It was announced that 


( 78 ) 


The Worm Turns 


79 


no boy would be accepted who could not 
swim. This served a double purpose. 
First it eliminated the possibility of danger, 
and secondly it meant that those selected, 
having confidence in their ability to take 
care of themselves, could devote all of their 
time to improving their oarsmanship. 

The weeding out process took the best 
part of a week, and at the end of that time 
twenty-seven boys had been chosen, with 
a number of understudies to take their 
places in case of need. Mike Murray, the 
Academy trainer, assisted Pinky in making 
the selections, and also gave the young 
captain a great deal of practical advice. 
Murray had coached one of the big univer- 
sity crews, and was conversant with every 
phase of boating. He urged the boys to 
be self-reliant and to think and act for them- 
selves as much as possible, although he gave 
them to understand that they could have the 
benefit of his experience at all times. 

Dr. Maury also displayed great interest 
in the formation of the crews. He was 
highly pleased with the energy and resource- 
fulness of the boys in raising the money for 


80 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the boat house, and said that if they dis- 
played the same enterprise at all stages of 
the game they could feel confident of 
success. He told them that they were at 
liberty to use the school gymnasium for 
their preliminary practice, and assured 
them that hard work was one of the surest 
ways of winning boat races as well as any 
of the other contests of life. 

There were four rowing machines in 
the gymnasium and the hours were so 
arranged that a certain number of the 
boys were able to practice each day in the 
week. The weather was not conducive to 
outdoor exercise, so that the indoor work 
fit in admirably with the plan of campaign. 
The training was liot confined to the row- 
ing machines, but included all of the forms 
of physical culture likely to develop the 
muscles, to facilitate breathing and to 
increase activity and nimbleness. One 
of the favorite exercises consisted in throw- 
ing the medicine ball. Bobby Benson and 
Pinky Palmer were usually partners at this 
sport and occasionally they were joined by 
'Forbes, Greely and James. 


The Worm Turns 


81 


The new boy, as James continued to be 
called, was developing physically in a most 
satisfactory manner. He had applied for 
membership on one of the three boat crews 
that Pinky proposed to put into operation, 
and had been accepted provisionally. He 
was told that it all depended on his con- 
dition. The red-haired and freckle-faced 
one announced that he had no intention 
of playing favorites. The final selection 
of the oarsmen was to be deferred until the 
last possible moment, and after that the 
men were to be chosen from among the 
number most likely to give a good account 
of themselves. James soon proved himself 
to be a clever boxer, and the quickness and 
ingenuity required in that branch of sport 
was slowly but surely robbing him of his 
natural timidity. One day Pinky, coming 
into the gymnasium, found the little fellow 
punching the bag with a vigor and determi- 
nation worthy of a sturdier lad. 

^^How are you making out, Nelson?’^ 
he asked with his characteristic grin. ^^Do 
you think you could stand up for four 
rounds with a real boxer. 


82 


The Bell Haven Eight 


^^That depends on the boxer/ ^ was the 
smiling reply. 

“Well, yours truly, for instance,’’ said 
Palmer. “I don’t suppose you’d care to 
put on the gloves with me, would you?” 

“I . certainly would,” was the prompt 
retort. 

“When and where?” 

“Here and now,” snapped James. 

Without any further parleying the two 
boys put on the gloves and faced one 
another in the manner of two professional 
pugilists. Pinky was confident and was 
considering how he could avoid giving 
his small antagonist unnecessary punish- 
ment. James, on his part, was anxious 
but determined. The Sleeping Beauty 
volunteered to act as referee. If Pinky * 
expected to find an easy opponent he was ^ 
speedily undeceived. James began the 
bout very cautiously. He advanced and 
side-stepped time and again much to the 
chagrin of the impulsive Pinky, who had 
thought they would come to blows imme- 
diately. 

“Stand still,” he shouted, presently. 


The Worm Turns 


83 


^^What!^’ puffed his small antagonist, 
^^so that you can pound me?^^ 

The force of the reasoning appealed to the 
red-haired one so forcibly that he burst 
into a hearty laugh. 

Blest if you’re not right,” he exclaimed. 
''I never thought of that.” 

But while he was saying these words he 
had left himself unguarded, and James, 
quick to seize the advantage, stepped for- 
ward and gave him a stinging blow on 
his pug nose. Pinky was furious. The 
unexpected punch aroused all of his fighting 
blood. He made a rush toward the little 
fellow and swung at him savagely. But 
James, with incredible swiftness, ducked 
his head and Palmer’s gloved hand lunged 
into vacant space. He staggered forward 
a few feet and before he realized what was 
happening James had hit him two resound- 
ing blows on either cheek. 

^^Time and take your corners!” cried 
Forbes, who was thoroughly enjoying this 
exhibition of the manly art. 

The two fighters were puffing from the 
unusual exertion and both of them sat 


84 


The Bell Haven Eight 


down to rest during the one-minute interval 
between rounds. Pinky, who was the 
first to get his breath, glared over at James 
^th a look that was half indignation and 
haK amusement. 

^^Say, my young friend with the angel 
face, where in the name of John L. Sullivan 
did you learn to box?’’ 

Nelson looked up from between half- 
closed eyelids as he replied quietly: 

^^Oh, I took a few lessons before I came 
here and lately I’ve been practicing- in the 
gymnasium. How do you think I do?” 

^^Oh, you do beautifully,” was the sar- 
castic retort. ^Hf you were any better 
I’d swear you were a professional.” 

^^Take your corners,” came the warning 
voice of the Sleeping Beauty. 

Once again the two boys squared off and 
once again the young one adopted his 
prancing tactics. Palmer smiled at him 
benignly. 

“You may think this is a foot race, 
youngster,” he said, “but it isn’t. I’m 
going to stand here until you come back and 
then you can get ready to.defend yourself.” 


The Worm Turns 


85 


It came about as he had foretold. Nel- 
son jumped to and fro, but finally he got 
within reach of the older boy and received 
a tap on the chin for his carelessness. The 
round lasted for three minutes, and it was 
in favor of Palmer. The third round was 
declared a draw, and the fourth was rather 
to the advantage of the small boy. 

^^I^m going to call you the Bantam here- 
after,^’ declared Pinky, as he took off his 
gloves. never dreamt you had so much 
steam- and science — especially science.” 

Forbes patted Nelson on the head in a 
fatherly way. 

You’re all to the good, my child,” he 
said, ^^and if you keep this up some day 
you may be President of the United States. 
I tell you 

^^Say, Forbes,” interrupted Pinky, as 
he tossed his gloves on the floor, ^^a great 
big idea has taken possession of my head.” 

^^It can’t be so very big if it finds a rest- 
ing place in that cranium of yours,” re- 
torted the Sleeping Beauty irreverently. 

“Say not so,” countered Palmer, “but 
ask me what it is.” 


86 


The Bell Haven Eight 


“I bite/’ responded the cheerful one. 
^‘What is it?” 

^^Why, it’s to put the Bantam here up 
against our friend Gordon Greely.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Say, do you need a chart for every 
idea I spring on you?” 

“Yes, if they’re all as hard to under- 
stand as this one.” 

“Well, I’ll try to put it in words of one 
syllable. Greely thinks he’s the crack 
boxer of the Academy. He’s pinned med- 
als all over himself. He. hasn’t any idea 
that James knows anything about the 
game. My scheme is to put the little fel- 
low into training and then suddenly spring 
him on Greely and show him up as a big 
bluffer.” 

'Forbes looked at Nelson James dubiously. 

“The idea is all right, but I don’t think 
the Bantam, as you call him, can stand 
the strain. There’s too much difference 
between them. Greely’s nearly a foot 
taller, and he certainly weighs twenty or 
thirty pounds more. They’re in a different 
class.” 


The Worm Turns 


87 


'^That’s where the joke comes in — ^it 
will be a surprise party to the big fellow.” 

The Sleeping Beauty was not convinced. 
He shook his shaggy head. 

^^It donT look like a square deal to the 
little fellow. He’s likely to get beat up 
and we’d be responsible.” 

'^But he won’t,” persisted Palmer. 
^^He’s got something that Greely hasn’t 
got and that’s science. I’ve boxed with 
both of them, and I know what I’m talking 
about.” 

Nelson James had been listening intently 
to the conversation between the two boys. 
Pinky noted the expectant look on his 
countenance and he added quickly: 

leave it to James himself. He 
shall be the judge. Nelse, you’ve heard 
all that I said. Would you be willing to 
take a chance with Greely for four rounds?” 

The expressive gray eyes of the new boy 
lighted up and his finely chiseled nose ex- 
panded like that of a well-bred horse that 
was eager for the race. 

^H’d like it better than anything that 
could happen!” he cried. ‘^And if you’ll 


88 


The Bell Haven Eight 


help me to get into condition, 1^11 promise * 
to box him” 

^^Put it there exclaimed Pinky, and 
the compact was sealed with a hearty hand- 
clasp. j 

James left the gymnasium a few minutes i 
later and Forbes turned to Palmer. 

^^That gets me, Pinky, he admitted. | 
Hereafter Vll never judge by appear- \ 
ances. I thought that fellow was afraid j 
of his shadow.” i 

^^That^s where you were mistaken,” de- p 
dared the auburn-haired one. ^^He’s just u 
full of grit and determination. I think 
Bobby Benson is responsible for giving us 
all the impression that James Was a milk- ij 
sop. He was a bit shy and timid when he | 
first came here and Bobby made that worse " 
by taking him under his wing.” ^ 

^^He didn^t look strong.” jj 

''Well, he wasn't strong, but he wasn't | 
sickly either. He was simply frail, and g 
this Bell Haven air is beginning to get in T 
its work on him. I'll venture to say that / 
he'll be as hard as nails before he leaves j 
the Academy.” 



The Worm Turns 


89 


^^And you think he ought to fight 
Greely? 

“Yes — ^but in a perfectly gentlemanly 
way. It will be the making of him. He’s 
still smarting over the initiation business. 
I don’t think he really thanked Bobby for 
saving him from being tossed in the blan- 
ket. Now don’t misunderstand me. He’s 
grateful for Bobby’s friendship, and won’t 
forget his interest in him till the day of his 
death. He’ll be as devoted as a dog, and 
that’s saying a lot, but with it all he’s a little 
sensitive about the way the fellows feel 
toward him. If he stands up before Greely 
he’ll be the most popular boy in Bell 
Haven.” 

The process of “hardening” Nelson James 
began the next day. Bobby Benson, who 
had been let in the secret, protested at first, 
but finally joined in the game after he had 
been assured that any interference on his 
part would result in placing James in the 
mollycoddle class. The future “White 
Man’s Hope” was first given long walks 
through the woods. On these jaunts he was 
bundled up in heavy sweaters, so that when 


90 


The Bell Haven Eight 


he returned to the Academy he was in a 
profuse perspiration. He was stripped and 
bathed, and the loyal Pinky, acting as a 
rubber, gave him a thorough course of 
massage treatment. He was put on a 
diet and between the exercise and the food 
and the baths he developed wonderfully. 
His flesh became firmer and he took on 
more weight. At the end of three weeks 
it was decided that the Bantam was in 
condition to meet the broad-shouldered 
Greely. 

The meeting between them was brought 
about in the simplest manner imaginable. 
Pinky had invited Nosey,’’ ^s they called 
the big fellow, to box four rounds with him 
in the g3unnasium. He cheerfully accepted, 
and before they had finished two of the 
rounds the room was almost filled with 
boys from the Academy. Pinky, being a 
good stage manager, had contrived to 
have a large audience for the performance. 
Greely went at the red-haired one hammer 
and tongs. The freckle-faced one took 
it in the best of humor, for he knew it was 
in a good cause. As the bout was con- 


The Worm Turns 


91 


eluded Greely, as Palmer had expected, 
was puffing like a porpoise. The moment 
it was over Nelson James, who had been 
carefully coached in his part, turned to 
the fistic giant and said: 

'^Greely, I donT think you showed very 
good judgment in that last round. If 
you had landed one under Pinky ^s jaw 
you would have put him out of business.’’ 

The big fellow gazed at the speaker with 
genuine amazement. 

^^Who let you in here?” he said finally. 
^^You ought to be tucked away in your 
crib, little one.” 

^^If I couldn’t box any better than you 
I’d go to bed and stay there!” came the 
impudent retort. 

The crowd roared with delight. The 
effect on Greely was just what the astute 
Pinky had predicted. He turned to James 
savagely. 

Maybe you can show me how to box?” 

^H’m sure I can,” said Nelson coolly. 

Greely’s face turned red and the veins 
in his neck began to swell. 

^Hf I wasn’t afraid of the Society for 


92 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 
I^d fight you/’ - 

“You’re afraid of yourself,” taunted the 
youngster. “You haven’t the nerve to 
put on the gloves with me.” 

That decided the issue. Greely pressed 
his lips firmly and nodded to the precocious 
one. 

“Put on the mitts,” he commanded. 
“You’ve got to stand up before me 
now.” 

James responded with alacrity. 

“Is it for four rounds?” he asked, as 
he held out his hands for Pinky to tie his 
gloves. 

“Yes,” sneered Greely, “if you can hold 
out that long.” 

The next instant the two of them were 
sparring for an opening. James, who had 
his wits about him, kept out of the reach 
of his longer-armed opponent. Greely, 
on the contrary, still puffing from his en- 
counter with Palmer and smarting with 
anger, went at his taunter like an enraged 
bull. James deftly stepped aside. The 
result was disastrous. Greely slipped and 


The Worm Turns 


93 


fell on the polished floor. That did^not 
serve to improve his temper. When he 
arose he made four or five savage lunges at 
the little fellow and missed him each time. 
In doing this he left his face unguarded, 
and James got in two short jabs to the 
jaw that shook him up considerably. 

^^Time!’’ called Forbes, who acted as 
ringmaster. 

The crowd was greatly excited and it 
required the services of the older boys to 
retain even the semblance of order. The 
second and third rounds passed off with- 
out special incident, but in both of them 
the smaller contestant proved that he was 
the better boxer of the two. He kept his 
senses about him and he fought with such 
skill as to win the unstinted applause of the 
audience. When the final round was 
called Greely was almost speechless with 
anger and mortification. He knew that 
he had not showed to advantage, and that 
fact made him reckless of consequences. 
He struck out wildly, and one of his blows 
caught James on the forehead and caused 
a bruise to appear. 


94 


The Bell Haven Eight 


^^Hit him on the nose, Nelse!^^ cried 
Bobby Benson. 

James took the hint at once and he drove 
a well-directed blow which caught Greely 
on the tip of his most conspicuous fea- 
ture. The effect was instantaneous. A 
tiny stream of blood appeared and slowly 
trickled down his chin. Before another 
blow was struck time was called and James 
was declared the victor in the battle, which, 
to the minds of the boys, was the greatest 
fight that had occurred since the famous 
encounter between David and Goliath. 


CHAPTER VII 


A FRIEND IN NEED 

T he great James-Greely fight be- 
came one of the historic incidents 
of the Bell Haven Academy. Nel- 
son James was a hero in spite of himself. 
The fact that such a little fellow had 
beaten one of the biggest boys in the 
school was a claim to fame that could not 
be overlooked by a crowd of healthy 
yoimgsters. Pupils that had hitherto not 
even spoken to him now came to shake 
him by the hand, and to ask him in con- 
fidence how he had managed to get away 
with the trick. But James modestly dis- 
claimed the possession of any wonderful 
qualities. He simply said he had trained 
hard and that by persistence he had suc- 
ceeded in getting the best of Cireely. 
He was careful to add that Greely 
was a good boxer, and to express the 
fear that if there was another contest 

( 95 ) 


96 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the victory might go to the bigger 
boy. 

Gordon Greely might or might not have 
heard these modest disclaimers, but it is 
certain that his attitude toward James 
was distinctly friendly. After the fight 
he had felt a certain sense of humiliation, 
but that feeling wore away speedily, and 
now he regarded the new boy as one who 
was worthy of consideration. It could 
not be honestly said that he feared James. 
His attitude toward him was more that of 
wonder and respect. He had taken a cer- 
tain amount of pride in his ability as a 
boxer, and he was chagrined to think that 
he had been beaten so easily. But he was 
no quitter, and he longed to perfect him- 
self in the manly art, in order that he 
might not meet with a second defeat. 
On the morning after the fight he went 
up to Nelson James and said: 

^^My boy, I want to congratulate you 
on your skill; you got away with that 
trick in good style.” 

James was surprised and a little bit 
disconcerted by this friendly approach, but 


A Friend in Need 


97 


one look into the eyes of Greely satisfied 
him that the young man was sincere. 

Thank you/’ he answered; didn’t 
expect you to shake hands so soon; I 
thought you might be waiting for a chance 
to get even.” 

^^I’m sorry you got that impression of 
me,” said Greely with real feeling. 
know that a lot of the fellows don’t like 
me, but it’s not my fault. I try to be 
as decent with them as I can. As for 
getting even with you, I never thought of 
such a thing. We’re not in the same 
class, and a good fighter like you knows 
it. But I’m going to ask you a favor.” 

^^What is it?” 

^^I’d like you to teach me that defense 
of yours. It got the best of me every 
time yesterday, and I’m just beginning 
to realize that the strength and the punch 
are not the only things in the boxing game. 
What do you say? Are you willing to 
give me a few pointers.” 

^‘You bet I am!” was the hearty re- 
sponse. ^'And I’m going to do all in my 
power to set you straight with the boys. 


7 


98 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Greely, I think theyVe got the wrong 
impression about you. They think youTe 
a bully. I don’t — ^at least, not after to- 
day.” 

There was a suspicion of moisture in 
the eyes of the broad-shouldered one. His 
swarthy complexion lighted up and he 
rubbed his hand across his big nose as if 
trying to do something to cover his em- 
barrassment. 

That’s mighty kind of you, James,” 
he said presently, with a catch in his voice. 
“If I’m ever able to serve you, don’t for- 
get to call on me.” 

“By — ^by the way, Gordon,” began Nel- 
son, with a curious hesitation, “there’s — 
there’s something I really ought to tell 
you. I wouldn’t have done it five minutes 
ago, but I’m afraid I’ll have to now.” 

“What is it?” 

“Well — ^well — ^you thought that fight be- 
tween us was on the level, didn’t you? 
WeU, it wasn’t!” 

“It wasn’t!” echoed Greely. “Why, 
what ever in the world are you trying to 
say?”. 


A Friend in Need 


99 


“Simply that it was a set-up job, that’s 
all,” continued the little fellow, his voice 
becoming firmer as he proceeded. “It was 
all planned ahead.” 

“It couldn’t have been set up,” pro- 
tested the puzzled one. “You beat me 
and that’s all there was to it.” 

“But I was trained and coached for 
weeks,” insisted Nelson, bound to drink 
his cup of repentance to the bitter dregs, 
“ and we took you when you were exhausted 
from boxing with Pinky Palmer, and I 
don’t think you got a fair deal at all.” 

To the surprise of the penitent Nelson, 
Greely burst into a hearty laugh. 

“That was great!” he exclaimed. “I 
didn’t think the fellows had it in ’em. 
It don’t detract from your victory in the 
least. You were a plucky bantam, all 
right, or you wouldn’t have beaten me. 
Besides, now that I know that a job was 
set up on me, the defeat doesn’t feel haK 
so bad.” 

Half an hour later Nelson met Pinky 
Palmer. The red-haired one was wearing 
a preoccupied expression, and would have 


100 


The Bell Haven Eight 


passed by without speaking if the new 
boy had not stopped him. 

^^Say, Palmer,” he said, ^^IVe been talk- 
ing to Greely, and I let him know that 
we set up a job on him in that boxing 
match.” 

^^The deuce you say!” exclaimed the 
freckled-faced one. Don’t you think 
you were pretty fresh to go around talk- 
ing about things that don’t concern you. 
I— I ” 

Nelson’s face flushed a scarlet that re- 
sembled Pinky’s hair, but he interrupted 
angrily : 

think it was very much my business. 
I was one of the principals, and I think 
I had a perfect right to tell him after the 
decent way he acted toward me. Besides, 
I don’t think we played a very nice trick 
on him.” 

What’s the matter?” cried Palmer 
with a suspicious glitter in his shrewd eyes. 
^^Gettin’ ready to play the baby act?” 

James was hurt and he showed it in his 
manner. He turned a reproachful gaze on 
the impulsive one. 


A Friend in Need 


101 


^^Did you ever know me to play the 
baby act?’^ he demanded. 

Pinky noticed the expression of the boy’s 
face, and his quick ear detected the note 
of injury in his voice. 

^^No, I didn’t,” he admitted, ^^but I 
can’t understand what prompted you to 
tell Greely what you did. It’s liable to 
get all of us in a terrible mess.” 

don’t think so. Greely was perfectly 
frank and straightforward with me. He 
bears no malice, and I don’t think there 
is the slightest danger that he will repeat 
what I told him.” 

“You’re a confiding cuss,” remarked 
Palmer, with a look that was half sym- 
pathy and half admiration. “When you’ve 
been here as long as some of the rest of 
us you may not have such faith in your 
pals.” 

“Greely isn’t my pal,” retorted Nelson 
stoutly, “but I believe in him just the 
same.” 

“I hope you’re right,” said Pinky, “but 
I have my doubts. I always looked on 
Greely as a fellow that nursed his wounds 


102 


The Bell Haven Eight 


and waited for a chance to get even. 
Anyhow, there’s the dickens to play. Dr. 
Maury has heard of the fight and he has 
all of the particulars. I don’t know who 
has been squealing, but I do know that 
he has it down to a dot. You won’t be 
blamed because he knows that we egged 
you on ” 

Don’t let that trouble you,” inter- 
posed Nelson. “I’m willing to take my 
part of the blame. I went into it with 
my eyes open ’ 

“Yes,” chuckled Palmer, “and came 
blamed near having one of them shut.” 

“Maybe I did, but I’m not going to 
hide behind anyone else.” 

“Oh, I understand all of that,” exclaimed 
the red-haired one, showing signs of im- 
patience. “No one is afraid of you. 
Greely is the fellow that has the grievance, 
and you’ve gone and given him enough 
to ruin us with Dr. Maury.” 

For the first time the seriousness of 
the situation began to dawn on James. 
He thought for a few moments and then 
said: 


A Friend in Need 


103 


^^You are really in the power of Gordon 
Greely/’ 

^^YouVe said it, Bantam. I don’t mean 
to say that Greely would go and squeal 
on us voluntarily, but if Dr. Maury should 
send for him and ask him what took place, 
where would that leave us?” 

“I see,” nodded Nelson. ^^It might 
mean trouble for all of us.” 

^'Trouble!” ejaculated the hot-headed 
one. ^^It would probably mean that yours 
truly would be expelled from the school. 
And this too,” he added in a remorseful 
tone, ^^after I’d made up my mind to be 
good.’ 

^^’m sorry!” 

Pinky laughed in his care-free way. 

^^Oh, you needn’t cry over it. We’ll 
have to take our chances. It’s all in 
the day’s work. I’m sorry I hurt your 
feelings, old fellow.” 

And with a laugh and a toss of the 
head he was off. It did not take Nelson 
James long to find out that Pinky’s fears 
were justified. Dr. Maury had been quietly 
investigating the boxing exhibition, and 


104 


The Bell Haven Eight 


everybody was wondering what the out- 
come would be. An air of expectancy 
hung over the school. The boys walked 
about in a hushed manner as if they were 
standing on a volcano that might explode 
at any moment. Probably a hundred 
boys had witnessed the bout, and there 
was not one of them that did not feel 
uneasy. They knew that Dr. Maury 
was not a hard master, but that very 
fact made them fearful of what he might 
do in a case of this kind. Sparring was 
encouraged, but sparring was quite dif- 
ferent from a fight for blood, such as had 
been staged by the fun-loving Palmer. 

It seemed a curious fact that the only 
boy that seemed at ease was the one who 
had been humiliated before his classmates. 
Gordon Greely walked about as though 
he were unconscious of the impending 
crisis. He had gotten over the temporary 
feeling of shame attending his defeat. He 
knew that most of the boys must have 
been aware of the fact that the pins had 
been set up against him, and that made 
him feel that he had not suffered so greatly 


A Friend in Need 


105 


in their estimation. He greeted everybody 
cheerfully, and even talked lightly of put- 
ting on the gloves with Pinky Palmer. 
Some of the more timid ones took this 
as sarcasm, and thought he was merely 
preparing to gloat over those who were 
sure to be punished for their participation 
in the affair. 

The crisis came to a head on the after- 
noon of the second day when Dr. Maury 
sent word that he desired to see Gordon 
Greely at his office. A number of the 
boys were standing with the broad-shoul- 
dered one when he . received the summons, 
and it was not many minutes before the 
startling news had spread about the school. 
As he walked into the president’s room a 
number of the yoimgsters crowded into 
the hallway, anxious to overhear what 
took place. Among them were Pinky 
Palmer and Bobby Benson. The doctor 
sat at his desk sticking a blotter with the 
end of a letter opener. 

''Ah, Greely!” he saluted. "How are 
you, my boy?” 

"Very well, thank you,” said the big 


106 


The Bell Haven Eight 


fellow nervously, knowing that the greet- 
ing was but the prelude of more serious 
things to follow. 

'^Greely,” continued the president, 
understand that you are very clever with 
the gloves.’’ 

The boy smiled in a sickly way, ana 
shifted from one foot to the other. 
don’t know about that, sir. I think there 
may be a difference of opinion about 
that.” 

Didn’t you engage in a battle the other 
day?’ 

The query coming in such a direct 
manner disconcerted him for a moment. 
He hesitated for a while, and then said 
simply: 

^^Yes.” 

Wasn’t it a pre-arranged affair?” 

“I — wouldn’t say that, sir. I — put 
the gloves on with another boy and got 
the worst of it.” 

^^Greely,” said the doctor sternly, toss- 
ing his letter-opener to one side, know 
about this business and I disapprove of it. 
I don’t propose to have this sort of thing 




A Friend in Need 


107 


going on at Bell Haven. Now I am not 
going to say who was to blame. In order 
to proceed I must have a complaint. I 
want to know if you will lodge a formal 
complaint with me?^’ 

cried the big fellow. '^Oh no, 
I wouldn^t think of doing that, sir. I 
have no complaint to make. I simply got 
the worst of the bout. I went into it 
of my own free will.^^ 

^Hs that all you have to say.’’ 

^^Yes, sir, that’s all.” 

^^Very well — ^you may go.” 

Greely walked out of the room in a 
half dazed way, only to be greeted by 
his fellow pupils with shouts of approval 
and cries of You’re all right Greely!” 

The next day a notice was sent out for 
all the boys to meet in the large assembly 
room. The president, it was stated, had 
an important announcement to make to 
the pupils of the school. The boys trooped 
in with feelings that would be difficult 
to describe. They settled in their seats 
to hear a lecture about the boxing bout, 
coupled with the possibilities of expulsion 


108 


The Bell Haven Eight 


for some of the ringleaders. Perfect quiet 
prevailed as the doctor arose. 

have an announcement to make that 
concerns the whole school/’ he began. 

gentleman who prefers that he should 
not be known has taken a great interest 
in the proposed boat race of the Bell 
Haven crew. He knows that we are in 
need of funds for equipment and he has 
authorized me to appoint a committee 
of three to purchase barges for practice, a 
shell for the race and anything else that 
may be needed to complete the equipment, 
and to send the bill to him.” 

A volley of cheers greeted this unex- 
pected announcement. The doctor stood 
there smiling at the effect of his words. 

knew that this would please you,” 
he said, ^^and in return for this I wish 
to ask as a favor to me that we have no 
more pugilistic encounters such as oc- 
curred here a few days ago. Real sport 
is to be encouraged, but affairs such as 
I have mentioned are not calculated to 
edify the friends of the school. I am 
taking it for granted that it will not be 


A Friend in Need 


109 


necessary for me to say any more, and 
I am going to conclude by appointing as 
the committee to select the equipment 
for the boat club, Mr. Michael Murray, 
our athletic trainer, Mr. Mark Palmer 
and Mr. Gordon Greely.’^ 


CHAPTER VIII 


pinky’s green book 
HE seven days that followed con- 



stituted a red-letter week in the 


^ history of the Bell Haven Academy. 
The much-talked-about boat house was 
finished and formally turned over to the 
club, and the committee charged with the 
selection of the eight-oared barges and 
shell completed their task to the satis- 
faction of all concerned. 

) The boat house, in the words of the 
Sleeping Beauty, was a perfect little 
gem.” Contractor Morrison had per- 
formed more than he promised, which is 
a trait so rare as to be worthy of special 
mention. The floor where the boats were 
kept contained all of the latest appliances. 
It was so arranged that the shell and barges 
could be shelved, bottom up, upon brack- 
ets, sufficiently close to one another to 
prevent warping from sagging. 


( 110 ) 


Pinky’s Green Book 


111 


Mr. Morrison had arranged part of the 
upper floor for a living room where the 
members could meet for business and social 
purposes. With the surplus funds from 
the theatrical performance it did not take 
long to fit this up in comfortable fashion. 
Some of the boys wanted a piano, but as 
this seemed like an extravagant invest- 
ment they compromised on a victrola. A 
couch, a number of easy chairs and a 
small library containing books on boating 
and sports generally completed the fur- 
nishing. It was cosy and delightful and 
the youngsters felt a sense of ownership 
that it would be difficult to translate into 
mere words. 

The shell, which was of cedar, weighed 
250 pounds, fuUy rigged, and was not 
only light and stiff, but durable. It was 
sixty feet in length and about ten inches 
from gunwale to keel, with a four-inch 
wash-board above the gunwale. The 
breadth in the middle was about twenty- 
three inches, narrowing to about seventeen 
inches at the ends of the cockpit, which 
was about thirty-five feet. Mike Murray, 


112 


The Bell Haven Eight 


who had scrutinized the craft with the eyes 
of an expert, said: 

^^Boys, I think youVe got an ideal rac- 
ing boat, and if you don^t win you can 
rest assured that it will not be the fault 
of the sheU/^ 

He was as solicitous of the boat as if 
it were a thing of life and he gave the 
youngsters detailed instructions as to how 
it should be treated. He said that it must 
be kept well varnished and that the bolts 
and screws must always be kept tight and 
in place. His advice was to use the three 
second-hand barges for most of their prac- 
tice. 

^^Of course it will be advisable to go 
out in the shell occasionally,^' he added, 
^^but when you are through with it see 
that it is throughly wiped and dried. It 
is also of great importance to take good 
care of the oars. The slightest scratch or 
imperfection is likely to affect their effi- 
ciency in the water. If I were the captain 
I would appoint boys to take turns in car- 
ing for the boat and the oars." 

^^Gee!" exclaimed the Sleeping Beauty, 


Pinky’s Green Book 


113 


who had been hstening to these instruc- 
tions with wide-open mouth, ''it’s worse 
than having a baby on your hands.” 

"It is,” admitted the veteran trainer, 
"and in some respects you will find it 
more troublesome.” 

Captain Pahner decided that water prac- 
tice should begin as soon as the river was 
free from ice. In the meantime the boys 
kept up their work in the gynmasium and 
interspersed it with long cross-country runs 
which improved their breathing and helped 
to get them in good condition. 

In the meantime it is not to be sup- 
posed that the Bell Haven boys were 
devoting all of their time to sports. On 
the contrary, they put in many long hours 
at study and in the class rooms. This 
was especially true of Pinky Palmer and 
Bobby Benson, who were now in second 
year High and beginning to feel the gradual 
increase of the regular lessons. Latin, 
Greek, English, Mathematics, History, Elo- 
cution and one of the modern languages 
was part of their daily educational diet. 
Pinky had selected French in. the modern 


8 


114 


The Bell Haven Eight 


languages and Bobby German, and when- 
ever they met there was a verbal inter- 
change of compliments in fragments of the 
two tongues. 

Pinky took to Latin without any diffi- 
culty whatever, but the study of Greek 
was one of his nightmares. He had the 
honor of being publicly complimented by 
the teacher for his translation of Cicero^s 
letters, which made him proud for the 
time being, but caused the other boys to 
accuse him of having a swelled head. 
Bobby Benson had a natural love for 
English literature and during the two 
terms he made a study of Irving^s Sketch 
Book;’’ Hawthorne’s Twice Told Tales;” 
Poe’s ^^Gold Bug” and Defoe’s ^^Journal 
of the Plague.” He was also called upon 
to memorize Goldsmith’s Deserted Vil- 
lage” and Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner.” 
It was during the last half of the second 
term that he revelled, for the first time, in 
Dana’s ^'Two Years before the Mast.” 

But as all work and no play makes Jack 
a dull boy, the pupils were not expected to 
devote all of their working hours to serious 


Pinky’s Green Book 


115 


study. Dr. Maury encouraged outdoor 
sports and urged the boys to participate 
in them with the understanding that they 
must not do so at the expense of their 
intellectual pursuits. 

It was early in the year that the ice in 
the river disappeared and made it pos- 
sible for the boys to go out in their barges 
and practice at the oars. Before they 
started for the first time Mike Murray 
made a little address to them in which 
he endeavored to impress upon them the 
qualities that make for success in the 
rowing game. 

Don’t imagine that you can succeed/’ 
he said, unless you are filled with earnest- 
ness. More than any other sport this 
requires young men of strong character in 
whom patience and perseverance are 
blended.” 

Pinky, in pursuance of Murray’s advice, 
deferred naming the crew that would par- 
ticipate in the race. In the meantime, 
however, he selected a tentative crew for 
practice purposes. Tony Brill was chosen 
for the post of coxswain because he had 


116 


The Bell Haven Eight 


demonstrated that he could think quickly 
and act promptly. Bobby Benson was 
named as stroke oar and the other mem- 
bers, besides Pinky himself, were Nelson 
James, John Forbes, Tom Morgan, Gordon 
Greely, Harry Baker and Eddie Prince. 

The boys started at their work with a 
rush and it took some persuasion on the 
part of the captain to make them under- 
stand that they could not crowd the whole 
hour’s exercise into the first five minutes. 
The Sleeping Beauty laughingly explained 
this hunger for work as being due to the 
fact' that they were all bursting with 
^Vim, wigor and witality.” There was 
much confusion at the outset and at one 
time it looked as if the barge might be 
overturned, but presently the boys got 
their stroke smoothed out and then every- 
thing went along swimmingly. 

That day’s practice on the river was the 
first of many others. The boys fairly 
reveled in the sport, and went about their 
work in a way that was most encouraging 
to the captain and the trainer. There 
were many minor difl&culties to be over- 


Pinky’s Green Book 


117 


come, but these were tackled in a way that 
left no doubt of the ultimate result. For 
instance, at least half of the boys did not 
know how to hold the oars in the way 
they should be held. Some of the exhibi- 
tions of awkwardness were laughable in 
the extreme. 

Those who have witnessed the efforts of “ 
a child to hold a violin for the first time 
or have seen the struggles of a young man 
who is attempting his initial shave can 
have some notion of the clumsiness of the 
Bell Haven boys during their first days on 
the river. Most of them overcame their 
rawness in a short time, but others seemed 
destined never to get the knack of handling 
the oars properly. It was a severe struggle 
— ^like trying to overcome a bad habit, but 
victory finally crowned their persistence. 

Pinky Palmer watched the boys with 
jealous interest. He was so profoundly 
interested in their progress that he forgot 
himself entirely. The result of this was 
a growth on his own part of which he 
was unconscious. But it was plainly evi- 
dent to his friends and associates. Re- 


118 


The Bell Haven Eight 


sponsibility was expanding the character 
of the mischievous one, and he was begin- 
ning to take a bigger view of life. He 
realized the seriousness of both work and 
play, and without quite understanding it 
he was laying the foundations of a char- 
acter that was to be invaluable to him 
in after life. 

As the result of his talks with Mike Mur- 
ray he was paying particular attention to 
the individual records of each man. In 
order to do this in a systematic manner 
he kept a little green-covered note book 
wherein was recorded the story of the 
work performed by each member of the 
crew. It was a thoroughly impartial 
record, and it told in plain words of the 
faults and the virtues of every boy. No 
miser, counting his gold, was more absorbed 
in his task than was Pinky Palmer in the 
keeping of that little green book. It 
was more than a record of work done. 
It was also a diary in which the red-haired 
one wrote down his impressions of boys 
and things. Like most diaries, it was 
singularly frank, He called a spade a 




Pinky’s Green Book 


119 


spade, and did not hesitate to write the 
fleeting impressions that came into his 
mind. A few of the things that he put 
down in white and black may serve to 
give an idea of this interesting human 
document. For instance: 

Gordon Greely: has been doing fairly good work, 
but is capable of much better. Not bad-hearted, 
but is over-fond of having his own way. He 
smokes a corncob pipe, which is really against the 
rules. We have forbidden cigarettes and that order 
has been pretty generally obeyed. Tobacco in any 
form is really put under the ban while the boys 
are in training, but I hate to tell Greely to cut out 
his pipe. He will think that I am feeling my 
'‘oats'^ and I donT want him to get that impres- 
sion. I wish he would voluntarily give up ^he 
pipe. If he donT do it soon I’ll have to speak 
about it. 

^ Here is another extract which shows that 
Pinky was having a severe trial in his 
endeavor to treat all of the boys alike : 

Nelson James: So far James does not give any 
signs of being an oarsman. He is bright and intelli- 
gent, but he does not put his heart into the sport. 
I suppose it is my* duty to tell him that he will not 


120 


The Bell Haven Eight 


do, but I hate to disappoint him by throwing him ^ 
off the crew. I don’t imagine that James realizes 
it, but he seems to be a little too fine-grained for 
the rough side of the sports at Bell Haven. He has : 
fine mental qualities and is almost sure to surpass . 
any of us when it comes to the examinations, but 
that sort of thing is not going to win the boat race. 

I should tell him to quit at once, but I think I’ll ' 
postpone doing it for another week. Maybe by ^ 
that time he will show some improvement. 

Still another excerpt from the famous j 
green book will aid in giving an idea of; 
the troubles that beset Pinky at that stage j 
of his career: 1 

John Forbes: He grows worse every day. If he || 
wasn’t such a lovable, good-hearted fellow I’d fire 'M 
him out of the boat without ceremony. But what 
can you do with a fellow that makes a mistake ■ 
fifteen times in succession, and then confesses itj 
with a laugh and says that he’s going to try and do ■ 
better next time? Of course when the next time* 
comes he does worse than ever, but always with* 
that good-natured laugh. The trouble with Forbes ■ 
is that he is not thorough. If I could only make ■ 
him serious he would be the most valuable memberfl 
of the crew. He has the brains, he has the muscle,* 
but often he hasn’t the desire. He is liable to goM 
off and take a nap and forget all about the practice* 


Pinky’s Green Book 


121 


hour. That sort of thing will have to stop or the 
boat race will be rowed without his assistance. 

These specimen pages from the little 
note book indicate that the careless Pinky 
was getting wise beyond his years. He 
was still cheerful and good natured, but 
his happy-go-lucky ways had left him. 
He furnished a most convincing proof of 
the sobering effects of responsibility. It 
was his habit to write in his little book 
each night just before going to bed. The 
habit grew upon him and instead of a 
task he was finding it a pleasure. One 
night he reached for his diary in order 
to make the entries for the day, and to 
his surprise and disappointment found that 
it was gone. He searched everywhere, but 
without result. The loss annoyed him so 
much that he could scarcely sleep. 

The following morning he met Gordon 
Greely in the yard, and to his surprise 
the broad-shouldered one was not smoking 
his corncob pipe. That afternoon he en- 
countered him again, and to his gratifica- 
tion the pipe was still missing. The temp- 


122 


The Bell Haven Eight 


tation to speak of it was too strong to be 
resisted. 

Whereas the pipe?^’ he asked. 

my room/^ was the reply. ^^Why, 
would you like to borrow it?’^ 

^^Not much/’ retorted Pinky, seeing an 
opportunity of getting in a sly reprimand; 
^^a fellow that expects to make good on 
the boat crew has to cut out tobacco in 
every form.” 

You mean cigarettes,” corrected Greely. 

''Yes and everything else in that line. 
I don’t pretend that a pipe of tobacco is 
going to send a fellow to the infirmary, 
but I do think it impairs his efficiency 
to a certain extent, and for that reason the 
fellows who are in training should abstain.” 

"Do you think that?” asked Greely. 
with a queer smile about the corners of 
his mouth. 

"I certainly do.” 

"Then,” cried Greely, as if suddenly 
convinced, "I’ll quit until after the race.” 

Pinky rushed toward him and grabbed 
both of his hands in his own. 

"Say, Gordon,” he exclaimed, "you’re a 


Pinky’s Green Book 


123 


brick! I’ve been wanting to ask you to 
do that very thing, but I was afraid you 
might misunderstand me.” 

Greely smiled that queer smile again, 
and said very slowly: 

know all about that.” 

'^You know! How?” 

For reply Gordon put his hand in his 
inside pocket and produced a little green- 
covered book which he handed to the cap- 
tain of the crew. 

“By this,” he said. “I found it on the 
campus just before I went to bed last 
night.” 

Pinky took it and mumbled some thanks. 
He was confused. He knew that the 
blood was mounting to his cheeks. 

“I — — ” he began hesitatingly — “I’ve 
forgotten exactly what I’ve written there. 
You know it wasn’t intended for any 
eyes but my own. I hope you didn’t 
find anything that hurt your feelings.” 

Greely laughed with whole-hearted en- 
thusiasm. 

“Not at all,” he exclaimed. “If any- 
thing I felt flattered. Your loss, though, 


124 


The Bell Haven Eight 


was my gain. IVe reformed. No more 
corncob pipe. But nevertheless if I were 
you I’d be a little more careful about the 
book. If some of the other fellows find 
it they may not feel as good about it as 
I do.” 


CHAPTER IX 


THE STOLEN OAR 

T he day finally arrived when it 
was possible to go on the water 
in the new shell. This important 
event had been long postponed for two 
reasons. The first was the necessity of 
having the boys thoroughly trained, and 
the second was the need for a clear, mild 
day when the water on the river should 
be almost as still and smooth as a mill 
pond. 

Most of the youngsters had been suitably 
hardened by the weeks of training. The 
work in the gymnasium had been most 
thorough; it was monotonous, of course, 
but the effect on the boys was to increase 
the freedom of action and to strengthen 
the muscles used in rowing. It required 
genuine love and enthusiasm for the sport 
to sit in a stationary boat in a gymnasium 
and pretend that it was being driven along 
( 125 ) 


126 


The Bell Haven Eight 


with the oars. But it had been done per- 
sistently and intelligently, and this winter 
exercise of the crew every afternoon had 
fitted them for the actual practice on the 
water. 

And now, after many short pulls and 
hard pulls, they were to have their first 
test in the exquisite shell which Pinky 
Palmer had laughingly christened ^^The 
Greyhound/’ Heretofore, they had aver- 
aged from half an hour to an hour and a 
half of work each day, and had pulled the 
length of the course to be rowed at least 
twice a week. The complete experiment 
was to be made now because they had 
reached the stage when the barge in which 
they did their practicing was perfectly 
balanced and the crew was able to row 
in unison and with no obviously bad faults. 

Mike Murray was present to see that 
the boat was properly launched. 

''Boys,” he said, "the first thing you 
will have to be on guard against is the 
danger of swamping the boat or being over- 
turned into the river. The vessel you are 
going to use is properly called a shell 


The Stolen Oar 


127 


because it is just as light as it is possible 
to make it and still carry a crew on the 
water/’ 

The members of the eight proceeded to the 
lower floor of the boat house and stand- 
ing under the shell raised it above their 
heads and lifting it clear gradually let it 
settle between the port and starboard men. 
It was carried outside of the house upside 
down. As they reached the waterside the 
shell was placed in the stream by raising 
it above their heads and the boys on the 
waterside stepping under, and all grasping 
the crossbars and swinging the light craft 
down to the stream together. It was a 
pretty exhibition of drilling and the crowd 
that stood on the shore burst into spon- 
taneous applause as the oars were slipped 
into the oar-locks. 

“Now, boys,” warned Mike Murray, 
“watch what you’re doing. You’re not 
getting aboard a ferry boat. It won’t be 
very hard to capsize this shell and I don’t 
want any of you hefty fellows to shove your 
feet through the frail sides.” 

The oarsmen got into the boat without 


128 


The Bel Haven Eight 


any difficulty. It might be said that they 
crept in. One foot was planted firmly 
in the center of the shell and all of the weight 
of the body was transferred to this foot, 
while the other foot was carefully and 
quickly brought into place. As the boys 
took their positions on the sliding seats 
they slipped their feet into the stretcher 
straps and tightly fastened them. The 
boys who remained on shore, taking hold 
of the blades of the oars that rested on the 
floating wharf, gently pushed the shell out 
into the stream until the oars w^ere clear 
of the float. 

At last ^^The Greyhound’^ had been 
launched, and the students of Bell Haven 
were ready for their first row in their racing 
shell. Each boy sat upright waiting for 
the signal. They were bare-headed and 
bare-armed, and presented a spectacle of 
superb young manhood. Tony Brill, who 
occupied the coxswain^s seat, was alert 
and eager and apparently conscious of the 
importance of his position. He glanced at 
the eight boys before him and then in a clear, 
shrill voice cried: 


The Stolen Oar 


129 


^^Ready!’^ 

The eight oars went back to their full reach 
and lay flat on the water. The knees of the 
boys were bent and the arms extended. 

^^Give way!” shouted Brill. 

Almost before the sound of his voice 
had died out the oarsmen pulled in unison 
and the boat shot on its way. The steadi- 
ness of the crew was remarkable, consider- 
ing their youth and the fact that they were 
in a new shell. The boat behaved beauti- 
fully. It was like a bird skimming over the 
water. As they proceeded on their way 
Pinky Palmer endeavored to explain the 
necessity of precision in the “stroke” and 
the “recover.” The stroke, it might be 
stated, lasts from the time the oar is put 
in the water until it leaves the water at the 
finish. The recover is from the time the 
oar leaves the water until it again enters it. 
A great American trainer has explained 
that the stroke consists of three parts: 
the catch, the puU through, and the finish; 
while the recover consists of the feather, 
the carrying back over the water, and the 
turning up for the catch. 


130 


The Bell Haven Eight 


The crowd on the wharf eagerly watched 
the boat as it proceeded on its way. The 
course was three miles, and the boys man- 
aged to row over it without any serious mis- 
hap. When they returned to the wharf 
they were greeted with cheers by their 
companions. After a rest of about a half 
hour they rowed over the course a second 
time and then returned the shell to the boat 
house. Following the instructions of the 
trainer, it was carefully wiped inside and 
out and then shelved on the brackets. 

Pinky Palmer, who had become a real 
boating enthusiast by this time, took partic- 
ular care of his own oar. In landing at 
the float and even when laid on the floor the 
concavity of the spoon was up so as to 
avoid chipping. He had made sure that 
the end of the blade and the back of the 
shank at the button of his oar were exactly 
parallel. He had also shaved the handle 
of his oar to fit his own hand, so that he 
could hold it easily and firmly without any 
effort. As he placed the oar in its rack he 
turned to Bobby Benson with a gratified 
smile. 


The Stolen Oar 


131 


'^That was some row, old boy,’^ he 
exclaimed, ^‘and I have no doubt that if 
we do as well on the day of the big race 
we^ll get that silver cup to put on the 
mantelpiece over the fireplace in the club 
house/’ 

Benson smiled as he ran his fingers 
through his thick brown hair. 

hope you’re right. Pinky,” he retorted, 
“and I don’t want to throw cold water 
on you, but if I were in your position I 
wouldn’t begin to count my ducks until 
they had been hatched.” 

Pinky Palmer lay awake a long while 
that night. His mind was filled with the 
events of the day and it seemed as if he 
could never get to sleep. But tired nature 
finally asserted itseh and his measured 
breathing indicated that he was slumbering. 
But, in this case at least, sleep did not 
mean rest. In a half-conscious sort of way 
he seemed to be going over the happenings 
of the previous twenty-four hours. His 
dreams were incoherent. There was a 
procession of sculls and shells and boys and 
boat houses. And through it all he 


132 


The Bell Haven Eight 


appeared to be in great distress. Once 
he felt as though the weight of the universe 
was resting on his chest. He tried to scream 
but could not, and just when all seemed 
black and hopeless he was aroused by the 
sound of some one knocking at the door 
of his room. 

He opened his eyes and discovered the 
sun shining through the window; he sat 
up in bed and could see the Arlington River 
as it rippled past the shore of Bell Haven. 
He felt drowsy and would have thrown 
himseh.back on the bed again if he had 
not been roused for the second time by 
some one kicking on the panels of his 
door. 

Hello there, Pinky! called the familiar 
voice of Bobby Benson. ^^Get up and let 
ae in. IVe been banging away for the 
ast five minutes. How in the dickens can 
^^ou sleep so sound?’’ 

^^What time is it?” yawned Pinky, 
giving a deep sigh and stretching his arms 
at full length. 

Seven o’clock,” replied Benson. 

^^Well, come around again in about half 


The Stolen Oar 


133 


an hour/^ directed Pinky with a snicker, 
as he buried himself under the bedclothes. 

Benson’s reply to this command was to 
redouble his banging on the door. As the 
din finally died out, he shouted in a tone 
of impatience: 

^^Open the door, you gink! I’ve got 
something fierce to tell you — something you 
ought to know right away.” 

The serious note in Benson’s voice caught 
Pinky’s attention. Reluctantly he arose, 
opened the door and admitted his chum. 

^AVhat’s the matter?” he grunted, rub- 
bing his knuckles in his half-opened eyes. 
^^What in thunder do you mean by getting 
a fellow up in the middle of the night?” 

^^It’s not the middle of the night,” re- 
torted Benson, becoming peevish in turn. 
^^It’s been daylight for two hours and if you 
don’t want to hear what I’ve got to say, I’U 
go away without telling you.” 

^'Oh, now, don’t be a boob,” exclaimed 
Pinky, grabbing his friend by the arm and 
preventing him from leaving the room. 

You’ve made enough noise, goodness 
knows; now what’s it all about? ”j 


134 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Pinky/’ said Bobby, in an awed whisper, 
“we’ve been robbed.” 

“Robbed!” echoed the freckled-faced one. 
“Why, what in thunder are you talking 
about?” 

“Some one broke the lock on the boat 
house last night,” continued Benson breath- 
lessly. “They got inside, upset things 
generally and no one knows how much 
they’ve stolen.” 

The gravity of this announcement seemed 
to rob the light-hearted Pinky of the power 
of speech or action. He was as silent as a 
statue and just as motionless. He seemed 
unable to comprehend the full meaning of 
the news that had been brought to him. 
If he had been told that the bottom had 
dropped out of the United States and that 
the people were tumbling into China, he 
could not have been more dazed, but after 
some moments of contemplation he began 
to recover. He flopped on the floor and 
started to put on his shoes and stockings. 
It did not take him many minutes to 
dress, and after a long silence he turned 
to Benson. 


The Stolen Oar 


135 


Bobby/’ he said, we’ve got to go down 
and look the boat house over.” 

Hurriedly the two boys made for the 
water-front and trotting along the river 
drive finally reached the boat house. It 
was as Benson had stated. Some one had 
broken the lock of the door and entered 
the place. Palmer opened the windows 
and as the sunlight streamed in was able 
to get a comprehensive view of the premises. 
The condition of the living room was 
chaotic. It looked as if a free fight had 
taken place. Chairs were overturned, the 
green velvet cloth had been torn from the 
center table and a number of ornaments 
had been broken. 

Downstairs the confusion was worse, 
if anything, than in the living room. 
Lockers had been broken open and articles 
of clothing were scattered about the prem- 
ises. But, most astonishing of all, two 
boards in the flooring, near the entrance, 
had been tom up and lay there, mute 
witnesses of an unknown vandal’s work. 
The boys examined the open spaces very 
carefully, but couldlmake nothing of it. 


136 


The Bel Haven Eight 


Why the thieves should have destroyed 
the new flooring which had been only in 
place three or four weeks, was more than 
they could understand. If it was a joke, 
it was a very sorry one, and if it was an 
exhibition of malice they both resolved 
that they would discover the perpetrators 
and make it their business to see that they 
received the full punishment of the law. 
The whole business had an air of mystery 
that puzzled the young oarsmen. 

'^What I canT understand, Bobby,’’ 
said Pinky, ^^is why these fellows should 
have gone to all this trouble for nothing. 
To break in and hack up the floor and then 
slip off without a cent — ^well, it’s got me 
completely flabbergasted.” 

As the captain of the crew stood there 
rubbing the tip of his knob-like nose, he 
presented a picture of youthful perplexity. 
Benson was equally at sea. He could 
suggest no solution to the riddle. When 
he spoke finally, it was with the air of one 
who was not sure of his ground. 

Suppose we send for the police,” he 
said. “They’re used to things of this 


The Stolen Oar 


137 


kind and they may be able to explain it the 
minute they examine the place/’ 

Pinky shook his head. 

^^That would be all right,” he con- 
ceded, ^^if there had been a robbery, but 
it seems half foolish to call in the police 
just because some lunatic has taken it 
into his head to chop a couple of boards 
out of the floor of the boat house.” 

While Palmer was talking Bobby Benson 
had been walking around the lower part of 
the room. Suddenly he gave a shout of 
dismay. 

Hello, Pinky,” he shrieked, think 
I’ve discovered the secret of this business!” 

'^What is it?” asked the freckled one in 
a voice filled with curiosity. 

^'They’ve stolen your oar!” exclaimed 
Bobby in a tone that tingled with rage. 
^^You can see that it’s gone.” 

Palmer hurried over to where his chum 
was standing. He gazed down into the 
floor below. Bobby was correct. The 
new blade which he prized above every 
other possession was no longer in its 
accustomed place. 


CHAPTER X 


FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND 

P INKY PALMER sank into a rustic 
chair and gazed at Bobby Benson 
with a look of helpless despair. He 
felt crushed. If some thief had stolen his 
purse he could have borne the loss with 
resignation, but to take his precious oar 
was quite another thing. It was as though 
he had been deprived of one of his limbs. 
He had become thoroughly accustomed to 
the oar and the thought of “breaking in^^ 
a new one, even if he could get it, was 
depressing. It was Bobby Benson who 
broke the silence. 

“Well,^’ he cried impatiently, “are you 
going to sit there all day staring at the 
wall? ’’ 

Pinky arose in an uncertain manner. 
He rubbed the end of his nose with the 
knuckles of his right hand. 

“IVe just been wondering what we ; 

( 138 ) i 


Footprints in the Sand 


139 


ought to do/’ he said. ^^It looks like a 
case for the police.” 

Bobby thought so too, and in a few min- 
utes they had sent a telephone message to 
the chief of police of Bell Haven. He 
responded in the course of a half-hour and 
seemed very much interested in the story 
that was told to him by the boys. Chief 
Black — that was his name — was a typical 
suburban policeman. He did not pre- 
tend to possess second sight or super- 
human intelligence. He asked questions 
as he proceeded with the search, but the 
farther he went the more perplexed he 
became. 

^^Boys,” he said finally, ^^is there any one 
in this neighborhood that has a grudge 
against your club?” 

Pinky, who answered, shook his head 
with emphasis. 

^^No,” he said. ^^The people around 
here were glad of the improvement. I’m 
sure that none of them would be mean 
enough to destroy our property.” 

The chief stood in the center of the room 
with his hands on his hips and looked 


140 


The Bell Haven Eight 


about him as if he expected a solution to 
leap out of the air. 

^^IVe never had a case exactly like this/’ 
he confessed, ^^and it looks to me like a 
piece of spitework. That oar wouldn’t 
do nobody no good except its owner, which 
is yourself.” 

Pinky was too much concerned over his 
loss to try to reconcile the logic and the 
faulty grammar of the chief of police. 

^^It’s gone,” he cried impulsively, ^^and 
somebody must have taken it. It couldn’t 
crawl away and it don’t make much dif- 
ference to me why it was taken. It’s gone, 
they’re gone.” 

^^It might have been taken for kindling 
wood,” reasoned the limb of the law, half 
to himself. 

^^Bosh!” ejaculated Pinky angrily. 

Chief Black stiffened up at this sign of 
impatience. His mind worked slowly as 
a rule, but it was very sensitive to any 
reflections upon his official dignity. 

guess you don’t need me no longer,” 
he remarked, assuming a tone of sever- 
ity. “I’ll bid you good-day and see that 


Footprints in the Sand 


141 


this business is put down in the police 
book/’ 

^^Is that the best you can do for us?” 
asked the boy peevishly. Isn’t there 
any way of recovering the oar?” 

The head of the police department 
stroked his goatee gently two or three times 
and expectorated through the open window 
before replying. 

'^You might advertise,” he said sagely. 
^^Put it in the Cleverly Clarion and say 
that if the gent what accidentally stumbled 
across an oar will kindly return it to the 
Bell Haven Boat Club he will get a suitable 
reward and he won’t be put through the 
third degree, either.” 

Pinky in spite of his heavy heart could 
not restrain a laugh. Chief Black was an 
unconscious humorist and humor is so 
rare that it is entitled to appreciation. 

^'But,” said the boy after he had recov- 
ered his gravity, “you’re surely going to do 
something for us. You’re not going to let 
the matter rest with the examination of 
the boat house?” 

The policeman shook his head, while his 


142 


The Bell Haven Eight 


jaws worked up and down on the quid of 
tobacco in his mouth. 

^^Oh, no,” he explained. going to 

be on the lookout for suspicious characters, 
and if I see any man, woman or child 
lurkin^ about here and lookin^ as if they had 
an oar concealed about their person, I^m 
goin’ to put ^em in the lockup and send for 
you to come and identify them. Can you 
expect anything more than that?” 

Bobby shook his head sadly. 

^^No,” he said, with a feeble grin, guess 
that^s about all we have a right to expect.” 

As the chief of police departed, Tiberius 
Brown came upon the scene. He listened 
with great interest to the story and when 
it was finished said in his most oratorical 
manner: 

^ ^^This is a more difficult problem than we 
are likely to find in any of the text-books. 
It concerns the greatest study of life — man. 
To solve it we must consider first the motive 
for the theft; secondly, the means by which 
it was perpetrated, and finally the method 
by which the culprit or culprits may be 
brought to justice.” 


Footprints in the Sand 


143 


exclaimed Pinky Palmer. ^^Pro- 
fessor, you talk like a real detective. Why 
don’t you pitch in and solve the mystery?” 

Tiberius pushed his spectacles up on his 
ample forehead and putting his arms akimbo 
stood looking at the captain of the Bell 
Haven crew. The professor wore the 
tightly fitting black frock coat, the short 
sleeves of which exposed his wrists and 
made him look taller and thinner than 
he really was. He gazed into Pinky’s 
small bright eyes as if looking for the 
mischief that usually lurked there. But 
for once the freckle-faced one was perfectly 
serious. Tiberius raised his voice to the 
shrill falsetto that he used when he was 
excited. 

^^That sounds like a challenge,” said he. 

^Ht is,” retorted the boy. 

“Then,” replied the professor, swinging 
his long arms around until they resembled 
a windmill, “I accept.” 

He immediately began to examine the 
premises. He did not stay indoors long, 
but came out in front of the house and 
slowly walked along a path that led to the 


144 


The Bell Haven Eight 


edge of the water. Presently he uttered 
an exclamation of satisfaction. 

“Oh/’ he said, “it’s just as I expected.” 

“What is it?” chorused Pinky and 
Bobby, who were following him closely. 

“Footprints in the sand,” was the sig- 
nificant reply. 

The boys followed the pointing finger of 
Tiberius and discovered the prints of two 
big feet in the loamy soil. The professor 
seemed to be oblivious of the presence of 
the youngsters. He dropped down on his 
hands and knees and producing a small 
roll of tape began to measure the prints. 
When he had ascertained the size of the 
footmarks he put it down in a note book. 
After that he drew forth a magnifying 
glass and holding it a few inches from 
the ground, looked intently through the 
lens. 

“These footprints,” he said presently, 
“have been made since last night. It was 
raining during the evening so that the thief 
or thieves must have come early this morn- 
ing. There is another point; the big man 
wore hob-nailed boots. The magnifying 


Footprints in the Sand 


145 


glass proves that. They show plainly in 
this damp sand. Find a big fellow that 
wears boots that have hob-nails in them 
and you will have the key to the solution 
of this mystery.’’ 

Pinky and Bobby looked at one another 
in amazement. Tiberius Brown was show- 
ing himself in a new character. They had 
looked upon him as a man of deep learning 
who was so absent-minded that he did not 
know what was going on about him. He 
was in the habit of making the simplest 
statements as though he were delivering a 
public speech. Altogether they had come 
to regard him as a sort of Babe in the 
Woods, and this new revelation of the 
homely old man as a shrewd and astute 
investigator puzzled while it pleased them. 
As he looked up from his work, he noticed 
the surprise on the boys’ faces. 

^H’ve made a specialty of footprints and 
finger marks for years,” he explained, ^^but 
lately I haven’t had any opportunities for 
making experiments. If you boys want it 
though. I’ll try to run this thing out.” 

“Want it?” echoed Pinky. “Why, Pro- 


19 


146 


The Bell Haven Eight 


lessor, we^U be delighted if you’ll do it. 
Only,” he added with a twinkle in his eye 
and a chuckle in his voice, ^^we can’t 
promise you a fee.” 

Tiberius actually laughed. 

There will be no trouble on that score,” 
he answered. ^^I’m an amateur and 
amateurs go in for love of the sport.” 

While they were talking the school bell 
rang, and Tiberius turned away hastily. 

^^It’s time for classes,” he said, ^'but if 
you will be patient I’ll resume this investi- 
gation and see what I can make out of it.” 

Thank you. Professor,” cried the boys 
in chorus. 

^'No thanks are necessary,” he replied 
with perfect sincerity. The thing interests 
me, and that is reward enough.” 

Time was leaden-heeled that morning. 
Recitations moved with painful slowness. 
But there is an end to all things, and 
finally the hour for luncheon arrived and 
the boys proceeded to their rooms to look 
after their papers before going to the 
refectory. Bobby Benson was first, and 
as he hurried along the corridor he noticed 


Footprints in the Sand 


147 


that the door of Gordon Greely^s room was 
ajar. He thought, in an absent-minded 
sort of way, that his schoolmate was very 
careless, for there had recently been com- 
plaints of petty thefts at the Academy. 
He glanced in the room in passing, and his 
attention was attracted by a pair of boots 
that stood near the door. Some impulse 
caused him to stop and look at them. He 
lifted them up, and discovered that the 
soles and heels were hob-nailed. The soles 
too were just about the same measure- 
ments as the footprints in the sand. 

The discovery annoyed him very much. 
He wished to think well of Greely, and yet 
this was circumstantial evidence of a very 
disconcerting kind. He had little appe- 
tite for the midday meal, and when the 
classes were resumed in the afternoon he 
found his mind wandering from his lessons. 
It does not take much to distract an 
ordinarily healthy boy from his studies, 
and candor compels the statement that 
Bobby Benson made a sorry showing that 
day. Indeed, Professor Brown felt called 
upon to warn him against inattention, say- 


148 


The Bell Haven Eight 


ing that he would have to do better if he 
hoped to make a decent average for the 
month. After school hours he was joined 
by Pinky Palmer, who noticed his pre- 
occupied manner. 

Benson,’’ said the freckle-faced one, 
''what ails you, anyhow? You don’t seem 
to be listening to a word that I’ve been 
saying to you.” 

"Oh, yes I am,” was the lame reply. 
"I’ve heard you aU the time.” 

"Well,” cried the other in a challenging 
manner, "what have I said?” 

Bobby looked at his friend blankly for 
some moments, and then in a burst of con- 
fidence exclaimed : 

"To tell you the truth. Pinky, I don’t 
know!” 

"I thought so,” cried the other tri- 
umphantly. "You’ve got something on 
your mind. Now what is it?” 

Bobby twisted his cap about in his 
hands and glanced at his friend in a help- 
less sort of way. When he spoke it was in 
halting tones. 

"It’s nothing,” he said. "At least, it’s 


Footprints in the Sand 


149 


nothing I can say anything about just 
yet.'' 

“Yes, it is," insisted the shrewd captain 
of the crew. “It's something I ought to 
know and I want you to tell me right 
away." 

There was no escape from the blunt, 
straightforward Palmer, so Bobby pro- 
ceeded to tell him of the discovery he had 
made in Greely's room. 

“I wanted to forget about it," he said, 
“but you wouldn't let me. I've thought 
over it for hours until now I can't rid 
myself of the notion that Greely is respon- 
sible for the stolen oar." 

Pinky looked very serious. He was 
more disturbed than he was willing to 
admit. When he spoke it was in defense 
of the absent one. 

“I can't possibly see what motive he 
would have in doing such a thing. No one 
in the school has had a poorer opinion of 
Greely than I have, but I want to be fair 
to the fellow. I know that he always is 
anxious to be at the head of everything 
and I know that he mopes when he can't 


150 


The Bell Haven Eight 


have his own way; but he’s decent, and I 
think when it conies to the pinch you’ll 
find that he’s an all-right fellow.” 

didn’t say he wasn’t,” cried Bobby 
explosively, ^^but you insisted on knowing 
this and I’ve simply told you what I dis- 
covered. If you don’t hke it you needn’t 
blame me.” 

Who’s blaming you?” cried Pinky, be- 
coming irritable. 

^^You are,” shouted the angry Benson, 
'^and now that I’ve told you, what are you 
going to do about it?” 

Nothing — for the present.” 

And so the matter rested. 


CHAPTER XI 


THE QUARREL 

T he course of genuine friendship at 
the BeU Haven Academ^^, hke the 
progress of true love elsewhere, did 
not always run smoothly. Also it is im- 
possible to put old heads on young shoulders 
and for that reason Bobby Benson and 
Pinky Palmer had more than one '^falling 
out’’ during the school term. Curiously 
enough a breach came between them over 
the missing oar. On the day after the dis- 
covery of the theft the two boys met in the 
courtyard. 

^'Well, Pinky,” said Benson, ^^have you 
found your oar yet?” 

^^No,” was the sour retort, ^^and I don’t 
think there’s much hope of finding it.” 

^^Have you ran out that Greely clue?” 
asked Bobby, lowering his voiceUn a con- 
fidential manner. 

^^No,” snapped the red-haired one with 
( 151 ) 


152 


The Bell Haven Eight 


unexpected suddenness, “and I think it 
would be a good thing if you’d stop picking 
on Greely.” 

Benson looked at his friend with amaze- 
ment. Such outbursts of temper were 
rare. He ran his long, thin fingers through 
his hair and after a pause said significantly : 

“You must have gotten out of bed the 
wrong side this morning.” 

This pleasantry failed to evoke any 
answering smile. Palmer was in a decidedly 
bad humor. His eyes hashed as he ex- 
claimed : 

“Well, I’m not going ’round makin’ 
charges against other fellows.” 

Benson’s cheeks flushed at this open 
declaration of war. He spoke quite calmly 
though : 

“You seem to have a chip on your 
shoulder.” 

Pinky did not answer and Bobby, mov- 
ing closer to him, said in even, tense tones: 

“You know very well that I went into 
that Greely business solely on your account. 
If it hadn’t been for that I wouldn’t have 
given it a second thought. You know ” 


The Quarrel 


153 


interrupted Palmer, trying to 
justify himself, “this isn’t the first time 
you’ve butted into Greely’s affairs. You 
got after him the time young James came 
to the Academy. He wasn’t doing any- 
thing out of the ordinary, but you got 
awfully officious all of a sudden and wanted 
to reform the whole school.” 

“I didn’t think James could stand it,” 
replied Benson. 

“But he did,” persisted Pinky. 

“Why, you pretend to be as much of a 
friend of Nelson James as I do.” 

“Sure, I like the youngster — but that’s 
no reason why he should be treated like a 
milk-sop.” 

Bobby’s face was scarlet now and he 
looked as if he were ready to fight. He 
restrained himself by a great effort and 
turned away, remarking: 

“There’s no use wasting any more words; 
I’ll see you when you’re in better humor.” 

They parted but met again later in the 
day. Pinky had determined to take a 
crew out in one of the barges. It was a 
clear, mild day and the prospect of getting 


154 


The Bell Haven Eight 


in some practice on the river was too good 
to be neglected. It was desirable to give 
as many of the boys as possible a chance 
at river work, so Palmer decided to send out 
the two barges. The question was, who 
should have charge of the second boat. 
Bobby would have been the natural choice, 
but there was still a slight feeling of hostility 
between the boys. Pinky hesitated but 
the fraction of a minute, but in those 
fleeting moments made the proper decision. 

'^Benson,^^ he said, '^I^d like you to take 
the second barge out this afternoon.^^ 

''AU right,’^ replied Bobby, and in that 
brief interchange of words it looked as if 
their difference of the morning had been 
healed. 

But the quarrel had been compromised 
rather than settled. Bobby welcomed the 
order to take charge of the boat, but he 
thought the red-haired and freckled-faced 
one might have gone a step farther and 
expressed some regret for his curtness of 
the morning. Palmer on his part felt 
that Benson had failed to meet him 
half way. He had voluntarily placed 


The Quarrel 


155 


him in command of the boat; why had he 
not thanked him or at least said something 
to indicate that there was no longer any 
hard feeling. So — imitating the methods 
of so many of their elders — they were partly 
reconciled, but only half satisfied. 

The work of manning the boats was 
accomplished without any mishaps. Pinky 
Palmer took the position of coxswain in 
his boat and armed himself with a mega- 
phone in order to shout out orders to the 
crew. He designated Gordon Greely as 
captain and tried the Sleeping Beauty as 
stroke oar. After the light craft had 
been pushed away from the temporary 
wharf, Bobby Benson and the remaining 
boys began to climb into the second boat. 

^^Be careful there,’^ called Pinky. ^Ht 
donT take much to upset these boats.^^ 

But Bobby, who had not fully recovered 
his temper, took the warning with bad 
grace. 

WeTe not babies,’^ he retorted. ^^Look 
out for yourselves and donT bother about 

us.” 

This sally was greeted with shouts of 


156 


The Bell Haven Eight 


delight from the youngsters in both boats. 
Pinky, the irrepressible, was the only one 
that did not laugh. 

only spoke for your own good,’^ he 
called with a tinge of bitterness in his 
voice. ^^You know youVe got a lot of 
green men in your crew.'^ 

^^Of course I know it/^ snapped Bobby. 

With your usual generosity youVe gobbled 
up all of the best oarsmen for your boat.” 

The barges were out in mid-stream by 
this time and were being pulled into position 
for the try-out. There was no further 
bantering, but there was an absence of 
the good feeling that should have prevailed 
during the practice hours. Even the most 
frivolous of the boys realized this, and felt 
that the work that day was being com- 
menced under very inauspicious circum- 
stances. 

The water happened to be of the mill- 
pond variety and the two boats skimmed 
along its glossy surface with the certainty 
and the speed of sea-gulls. The boys did 
not pull together at the outset, but they 
had not gone over half the course when they 


The Quarrel 


157 


were rowing in almost perfect unison. 
During the trial the advantages of the slid- 
ing seat became apparent to the boys, some 
of whom had objected to it at the outset. 
The- wind of the ordinar}^ oarsman becomes 
exhausted before his muscles, and on a 
sliding seat the rower does not become 
winded as soon as on a fixed one. At all 
events, most of the youngsters were per- 
fectly fresh when they had reached the 
turning point in the Arlington River. 

The wind had risen slightly when they 
started on the homeward course, and this 
had the effect of whipping the water into 
little waves. They were not high enough 
to interfere with the sport, although at 
one stage of the game Bobby^s crew did 
more splashing than is permissible with 
well-trained oarsmen. As they neared 
the starting point it was noticed that the 
folds of the flag on the club house were 
drooping by the side of the pole. It meant 
that the wind had died out and that the 
water was now of a glass-like smoothness. 
Some one from the first boat shouted: 

^^Hey! weTe going to beat you home!^^ 


158 


The. Bell Haven Eight 


That was the signal for the boys in both 
boats to bend to the oars and row with 
redoubled effort. Bobby and Pinky, sitting 
in the sterns of their respective boats, 
almost forgot their personal differences 
in the excitement of the moment. A crowd 
of the Bell Haven pupils had gathered on 
the float in front of the boat house and when 
they realized that a race was in progress, 
cheered with all their might. As they came 
nearer to the boat house the rival cox- 
swains began shouting orders to the crews. 
Suddenly there was a shout and a cry of 
consternation. The boats had collided 
and almost before it was possible to say 
^^Jack Robinson’’ they had overturned 
and eighteen husky boys were struggling 
in the water. 

The greatest confusion prevailed. For 
the most part those who had been given 
this unexpected bath took it good-naturedly, 
but there was some grumbling and no end 
of excitement. Fortunately all of the boys 
were good swimmers and that removed 
the element of danger. But the thing had 
happened so suddenly that some of them 


The Quarrel 


159 


had difficulty in getting their wind and they 
puffed and splashed like so many porpoises. 
The boys on shore cheered and yelled as if 
the whole performance had been given for 
their special benefit. 

The first move after they had recovered 
their self-possession was to right the two 
barges. This was accomplished without 
much trouble and the boats pushed over 
to the floating landing. The youngsters 
clambered up one after another, laughing 
and joking over their involuntary bath. 
But there were3wo persons in the crowd 
that declined to look on the accident as 
a joke. One was Pinky Palmer and the 
other Bobby Benson. Pinky was the last 
one to get out of the water and as he stood 
on the float he shook himself like a New- 
foundland dog that has been swimming. 
As he turned around he caught sight of 
Benson. Instantly all of the rancor in 
his heart came to the tip of his tongue. 

'"Well,’’ he cried in a most offensive 
manner, ^^youVe succeeded in making a 
nice mess of it, haven't you?" 

Bobby frowned and stared at his old 


160 


The Bell Haven Eight 


friend with studied insolence. When he 
spoke the bitterness of his voice matched 
Palmer^s. 

'^Do you mean to say/^ he cried with 
well-affected surprise, '^that youVe got 
the nerve to blame this business on me?’^ 

“Sure. Wasn’t it your fault?” 

“Certainly not; it was your stupidity. 
If I couldn’t do any better than that I’d 
give up pretending to train a crew.” 

The two boys were facing one another 
now, with clenched fists and faces as red 
as ripe tomatoes. All of the ill feeling of 
the past twenty-four hours came to the 
surface. 

“I’m sick and tired of your taunting!” 
cried Pinky. “We might as well have it 
out now.” 

“All right,” exclaimed Bobby; “I’m 
ready.” 

A number of boys surrounded them and 
before it was possible to resort to physical 
force they had been separated. Curious 
enough it was the Sleeping Beauty who had 
drawn Benson aside and whispered some- 
thing in his ear that made him feel embar- 


The Quarrel 


161 


rassed. Similarly it was Gordon Greely 
who had played the part of the good 
Samaritan to Pinky Palmer. Soon after 
that the members of the crew changed 
from their rowing clothes to street attire and 
hurried to their rooms in the dormitories. 

The news that Benson and Palmer had 
quarreled spread rapidly. It created much 
talk and gossip. An actual fight between 
any other two boys would not have been 
regarded as of any consequence, but with 
Pinky and Bobby it was different. The 
report that the Damon and Pythias of 
the Academy had nearly come to blows was 
almost unbelievable. It is creditable to 
the good hearts of the boys that they 
regretted the news. Nearly all of them 
admired Benson and Palmer. They looked 
up to them, as far as sports were concerned, 
and it was not pleasant to have their idols 
shattered. 

But the two most miserable beings in 
Bell Haven that night were Pinky and 
Bobby. Anger was gone and remorse had 
taken its place. Bobby sat in his room 
looking out at the placid waters of the 


11 


162 The Bell Haven Eight 


Arlington River. He assured himself over 
and over again that he was in the wrong. 
It made him very sad to think that he had 
quarreled with his best friend. And the 
fact that it had occurred in public made it 
all the more humiliating. He attributed 
it to his own ungovernable temper. He 
knew that Pinky had been irritating, but 
he felt that if he had shown any self- 
restraint the trouble might have been 
avoided. 

He sat there hour after hour, silent 
and unhappy. Presently he heard eleven 
o’clock strike and an awful sense of lone- 
liness seemed to overwhelm him. He 
felt that deep depression of spirits that had 
assailed him on his first night at Bell 
Haven. Just at this point in his medita- 
tions he heard footsteps in the room. The 
place was still in darkness. He listened 
intently. Soon there came the sound of a 
familiar voice. 

“Bobby,” it said very, very softly, “are 
you there?” 

“Yes, Pinky,” he answered with a choking 
sensation in the throat. “What is it?” 


The Quarrel 


163 


Bobby/’ continued the voice, coming 
nearer, awfully sorry for what hap- 

pened today. I want you to forget it. 
WiU you?” 

You bet I will!” 

The next moment they were clasping 
hands and patting one another on the back. 

^^It was all my fault, Bobby,” protested 
Pinky, ^^and you’re a brick for overlook- 
ing it.” 

^^It wasn’t,” persisted Bobby. might 
have prevented it if I’d had any sense. 
But it won’t happen again.” 

And the clock beneath the gilded dome 
of the Academy struck twelve before they 
separated for the night. 


CHAPTER XII 


pinky’s plight 

T he reconciliation of Pinky Palmer 
and Bobby Benson became a matter 
of common knowledge before the 
morning classes were called, and the satis- 
faction with which it was received was a 
tribute to their popularity. Pinky and 
Bobby felt ashamed of the manner in which 
they had acted on the previous day, and 
both were willing to do whatever penance 
seemed proper under the circumstances. 
The most important thing, apparently, 
was to let the school see that the feud 
between them was at an end, and in order 
to emphasize this they made it a point to 
stroll about together in a somewhat osten- 
tatious manner. The other pupils did not 
fail to notice this restoration of friendly 
relations and as a consequence it was not 
long before there was a better feeling aU 
around. 


( 164 ) 


Pinky’s Plight 


165 


After the afternoon session of school 
Pinky and Bobby went to the gymnasium, 
where they indulged in an hour of indoor 
exercise. Some of the other members of 
the crew were there, and they greeted the 
two friends with much enthusiasm. At 
Pinky’s suggestion aU hands engaged in a 
frolic with the medicine ball. There were 
six of them and the rapidity with which 
the leather sphere was tossed from one to 
another was almost bewildering. Mike 
Murray came in while the sport was at its 
height, and at his direction they dropped 
the ball in order to do some general gym- 
nastic stunts. All six lay flat on their backs 
on the floor, and then by easy stages lifted 
themselves to a sitting posture without 
using their hands. It was not easy, but it 
had the effect of limbering some of the least- 
used muscles of the back. Finally they 
put on the gloves and boxed for fifteen 
minutes. 

At the end of that time he sent them all 
to the shower baths, and after a thorough 
wash they had a rub-down that left them 
glowing with health and vitality. For the 


166 


The Bell Haven Eight 


time being they felt fully competent to 
meet and vanquish competitors in any 
field of sport. The boys took a long walk 
and when the supper bell rang they had 
appetites that would have shamed a wolf. 
Following the advice of the trainer, they 
retired at an early hour and enjoyed the 
luxury of a sound sleep. 

When Pinky Palmer awoke the next 
morning his mind reverted to the stolen 
oar and he remembered with a feeling of 
disappointment that he had really done 
nothing toward the solution of that annoy- 
ing mystery. The fact that he had been 
fairly busy during the preceding two days 
furnished an explanation even if it did not 
give a justification for his non-action. 

During the practice on the river which 
had culminated in the upsetting of the two 
barges, he had used one of the utility oars 
which was kept in the club house, in case 
of emergencies, but it did not satisfy him. 
It was, at best, an awkward substitute for 
his own finely made oar. He knew that 
he could not do his best work with a blade 
of that kind, and the thought fired him with 


Pinky’s Plight 


167 


a resolution to recover his own oar if it were 
possible. 

After breakfast that morning he went 
down to the boat house for the purpose of 
looking over the ground again. A new lock 
had been put on the door to take the place 
of the one that had been broken by the 
unknown burglars. Otherwise no attempt 
/ had been made to repajr the damage. The 
hole in the floor caused by the destruction 
of the boards still remained, and when 
Pinky entered the room it confronted him 
like a gaping wound. He got down on 
his hands and knees and examined it with 
great care, but when he had concluded 
he had not added anything to his store of 
information. 

He arose presently and seated himself 
on a convenient soap box, staring at the 
injured floor as if by that process he might 
think of a solution for the enigma. His 
thoughts were rather confused. Somehow 
or other he could not get his mind at work 
on the case. He remembered, dimly, 
what Tiberius Brown had said of the foot- 
prints in the sand. The professor’s theory 


168 


The Bell Haven Eight 


that they were made by a man with hob- 
nailed boots seemed to offer a starting point 
for an investigation. He walked over to 
the window and looked out. He could 
still see the marks in the half sandy, half 
loamy soil. They led in the direction of a 
meadow that was rarely traveled. He had 
just resolved to follow the footprints when 
his attention was attracted by some one 
coming to the boat house. It was Adam, 
the janitor of the school. 

Hello, Bub,’^ said the venerable one, 
stroking his white beard tenderly. ^^What 
in the name of Davy Jones are you doin^ 
round here so early in the mornin^^’ 

^H’m the early bird,’' retorted Pinky, with 
a twinkle in his bright eyes, and I’m look- 
ing for that worm we read about so much.” 
Adam chuckled. 

Guess you won’t find it. All the 
respectable worms in this neck of woods 
stay in bed tiU dinner time. But funnin’ 
aside, what’re you doin’ here?” 

came to look at this broken floor,” 
replied Palmer, seriously, ^^and to try and 
make a guess what it all means.” 


Pinky’s Plight 


169 


The old man caressed his frosted beard 
for some moments before replying. *When 
he spoke it was with deliberation. 

was in here yesterday takin’ a look 
at that hole in the floor, and I kin tell you 
one thing sure.^’ 

What’s that?” 

^^Why, it warn’t done by a carpenter. 
That choppin’ is the work of a greenhorn. 
He’s done it with a hatchet and I know 
what I’m talkin’ about when I tell you that 
he didn’t know how to use the hatchet. 
I was somethin’ of a carpenter in my young 
days, and I want to teU you, boy, that no 
carpenter who was worth his salt would 
be guilty of a job like that.” 

Pinky, who was deeply interested in what 
the old man was saying, turned to him 
eagerly. 

^^Do you think it was a piece of spite- 
work?” he asked. 

Adam stroked his beard and going over 
to the open window expectorated with 
great precision. 

''No,” he said finally, and in a judicial 
manner. "I don’t think that at all. It 


170 


The Bell Haven Eight 


looks to me as if the chap that done that 
job was in an awful hurry and that maybe 
some one interrupted him before he got 
through. And I^U tell you another thing — 
he was left-handed. I can tell by the way 
he chopped the end of that plank. Do you 
know any left-handed fellow? If you do, 
maybe you can put two and two together 
and you’ll find that it won’t make five.” 

Adam pulled out his old silver watch, 
and glancing at the face of the ancient 
timepiece, exclaimed: 

^^I’ve got to leave you, son. Here I’ve 
been chatterin’ away like a magpie when I 
should be up at the station meetin’ that 
early train.” 

Pinky sat plunged in thought after the 
janitor left him. He was trying to put two 
and two together, as the venerable one had 
suggested, and he was finding that the 
process led to interesting reflections. It 
seemed curious that the only tangible 
clues to the mystery thus far had been 
furnished by Tiberius Brown and old Adam, 
who were regarded as the two most imprac- 
ticable men at BeU Haven. From their 


Pinky’s Plight 


171 


deductions it was evident that the vandalism 
had been committed by a left-handed man 
who was not familiar with hatchets and 
who wore hob-nailed boots. This pretty 
effectively put Gordon Greely out of the 
question, for he; was not left handed and 
he would not have made a botch of removing 
a couple of planks from the floor. In fact, 
he decided that the thought of Greely was 
ridiculous from any point of view. 

The question now was, why had the 
flooring been removed? The answer came 
with unexpected suddenness: ^Ho find 
something that had been concealed under 
the boards.’’ Instantly Piilky was down 
on his knees again, digging in the dirt of 
the open space. After fifteen minutes of 
hard work with a small spade, he had his 
labor for his pains. By that time he quit 
in disgust. Suddenly he was filled with an 
impulse to foUow the footprints in the loamy 
soil. It would be more than an hour and 
a half before the morning classes were 
called to order, and that would give him 
ample time for his purpose. 

The tracks led him across the main road 


172 


The Bell Haven Eight 


that skirted the river from Cleverly to 
Burlingham, and then into an unfrequented 
path in the woods. It was quite hilly, 
but Pinky was young and robust and 
thought nothing of hard work. There were 
times when he lost all traces of the foot- 
prints, but he felt that he was going in the 
right direction and he plodded ahead filled 
with the excitement of his curious quest. 
Presently he realized that it had been a 
long while since he left Bell Haven and that 
it was time to return. But the temptation 
to continue was irresistible. He walked 
for more than a mile without passing a 
building of any kind, but soon he was 
rewarded by the sight of a stone dwelling. 

It was old and apparently deserted. As 
the boy came nearer he saw that it was one 
of the ancient Colonial homes, the stone 
work of which had survived the wear 
and tear of more than a century. The 
other portions of the house were, how- 
ever, beginning to show signs of decay. 
The wooden porch was rotten, the shutters 
hung half off the hinges and — most surpris- 
ing of all — ^it was doorless. Curiosity 


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“^\ HAT You Do Here’^ Shrieked the Kvil Looking One 



Pinky’s Plight 


173 


prompted Pinky to walk in. The house 
seemed deserted, but when the youngster 
reached the second story front room he was 
startled by the sound of scraping feet. He 
stood still and the next moment was con- 
fronted by a swarthy-looking individual 
with a thick, coal-black mustache. The 
man wore a red shirt and was shabbily 
attired. 

^'What you do here?” shrieked the evil- 
looking one in broken English. 

Pinky was too terrified to reply. Out- 
wardly he showed no signs of fear, but his 
legs were trembling and he felt a sudden 
weakness akin to seasickness. He moistened 
his lips with the tip of his tongue and was 
about to stammer something when the man 
made a rush for him. Pinky, thinking 
discretion the better part of valor, retreated 
in disorder. He backed hastily into an 
adjoining room and glancing sideways saw 
what appeared to be an opening into the 
hallway. He made a dash for it, only to 
find that he had run into a large clothes 
closet. 

^^You spy!” cried the pursuer, whose 


174 


The Bell Haven Eight 


bare teeth showed through the black 
strands of his mustache like an angry dog. 
“You miserable spy.’’ 

Before Palmer realized what was going 
on, the fellow slammed the door and it 
closed with a significant click. The next 
moment the boy heard the retreating foot- 
steps of the piratical looking individual. 
He remained very quiet for a minute and 
after that he began to fumble about the 
enclosure. It was large enough to permit 
him to stand upright and by reaching out 
he could touch the sides of the closet with 
the tips of his fingers. The door was of the 
heavy oak wood that was so generally 
used in Colonial days. He tried to open 
it and failed. 

Suddenly the truth of his predicament 
dawned upon him. The door had shut 
with a spring lock and he was a pris- 
oner! 

For some moments he did not stir, but 
presently the brooding silence got upon 
his nerves and he yelled at the top of his 
voice. But the only answer he received 
was the echo of his cries. After that he 


Pinky’s Plight 


175 


pounded on the heavy door with his bare 
fists, but all to no purpose. 

Presently he felt a stifling sensation 
as though some one was clutching at his 
throat. His breathing was becoming 
increasingly difficult. Once again he ham- 
mered at the oak panels and called for 
help, but there was no answer, and he 
fell over in a heap, exhausted. 


CHAPTER XIII 


DAYLIGHT AND DARKNESS ] 

I T has been said that drowning persons r 
have flashed across the scene of their ■ 
memory in a few moments all of the 
chief events of their lives. Whether this 
be true or not, it is certain that Pinky^ 
Palmer’s mind was now racing back over, 
the incidents of his career at the Bell Haven 
Academy. He recalled very vividly the""^ 
first day he had entered the quaint old 
place and he remembered also, in a special ' 
way, the arrival of Bobby Benson. Dear 
old Bobby, he might never see him again! 
He experienced a peculiar feeling of satis- ■ 
faction over their reconciliation. It was 
good to think that he had had the courage 
to wipe out the little unpleasantness caused 
by their temporary differences of opinion. 
He realized now more than ever his great 
fondness for Bobby, and he resolved that 
if by any miracle of chance he were spared 
(176) 


Daylight and Darkness 


177 


from his present danger he would never 
permit anything to interfere with their 
friendship. 

The air of the closet was becoming so 
foul that it was difficult to breathe. 
Pinky wondered in a vague sort of way 
how long a person could live under 
such conditions. He had heard of men 
being accidentally caught in time-locked 
safes, and he had read of how their 
bodies had been dragged out only when 
it was too late to revive the spark of 
life. It was an unpleasant thought, but 
he dwelt on it with a sort of gruesome 
delight. He wondered how he would look 
after he was found in this closet, unconscious 
and perhaps dead. He speculated on its 
probable effect on the boys of the Adacemy. 
How would Benson feel? Would Tiberius 
Brown mourn his death? The gruesome 
thoughts seemed to fascinate him in a most 
uncanny way. He wondered what he was 
actually like in the eyes of other persons. 
He had his own ideas of his personality. 
Was it anything like the actual thing? 

From this point his thoughts began to 


12 


178 


The Bell Haven Eight 


wander to the Bell Haven Boat Club. 
He had worked hard to make that a success, 
and his labors were just beginning to bear 
fruit. His mind reverted to that after- 
noon when he had crept about the grounds 
tacking up the notices on the trees. The 
meeting that followed had been such a suc- 
cess, and the boys had elected him presi- 
dent of the club and captain of the crew 
with such a degree of enthusiasm that it 
had warmed his heart. No matter what 
happened, whether his life was long or short, 
he could never forget the hearty good will 
that had been shown him by the boys of 
the Academy. It came home to him in the 
brooding silence of this living tomb with a 
vividness that he had never experienced 
before. He felt himself being overcome 
by the foul air and rousing himself with an 
effort he banged his bare fists against the 
unyielding wood of the door. 

^^Help! Help!’^ he cried shrilly. ^^Come 
and open this closet or I’ll suffocate and 
die!’’ 

It seemed useless, but he had read of 
men imprisoned in steel vaults who had 


Daylight and Darkness 


179 


encouraged their rescuers by crying out 
from time to time, thus letting them know 
that the prisoner was alive. While there 
was life there was hope, and he resolved 
that he would cry out at intervals as long 
as he had breath, in the expectation that 
it might be heard by some one. But pres- 
ently a feeling of great weariness took 
possession of him, and he sank down to 
the floor again with a sigh that was akin 
to relief. 

Once more his mind began to comb the 
past. He was in a sort of stupor and his 
thoughts were like the disconnected fabric 
of a dream. But they were pleasant, and 
indolently he encouraged them. He re- 
called the entrance of Nelson James into 
the Academy, and of the chivalrous man- 
ner in which Bobby Benson had become 
the friend and protector of the lonely boy. 
The initiation of little James passed before 
his mental vision like a panorama. He 
could see the interference of Bobby when 
they started to throw the new boy up in 
the blanket, and he remembered how he 
had turned the tables and given the hazing 


180 


The Bell Haven Eight 


to Gordon Greely. He thought at the 
time that Benson was going too far and 
that he was trying to make a mollycoddle 
of James, but now in the seclusion of this 
stifling closet the business put on a different 
aspect. Bobby was right and the hazers 
were wrong. Why had he not seen it in 
that light at the time? 

Then he thought of the generous manner 
in which Doctor Maury had received the 
news of the formation of the boat crew 
club. The meeting had been deliberately 
called at a time when the president of the 
school was out of the city, and Pinky had 
confessed the fact to the doctor, but he 
had merely smiled and told them to go 
ahead and make a success of the under- 
taking. All they had to work on was the 
old boat house, and the problem of money 
had to be faced at the outset. It was this 
problem that brought about the burlesque 
production of ^‘Julius Csesar.’^ Pinky 
chuckled, even in his misery, as he thought 
of the hilarious fun of those two perform- 
ances. He could see Csesar now, and 
Cassius and Brutus and Mark Antony, 


Daylight and Darkness 


181 


with their shields and head pieces and the 
wooden Indian that stood as the statue 
of Pompey. He arose again and hammered 
at the door in a hysterical manner. But 
there was no response, and he dropped to 
the floor, all in a tremble. 

Soon he found his mind going over other 
details in the brief history of the boat club. 
He remembered, with a smile, his little 
green book, in which he had so frankly 
recorded his impressions of the crew. He 
recalled in a special way the things he had 
written of Gordon Greely, and of how 
Greely had found the book and of the 
manly way in which he had taken the blunt 
criticisms of himself. He was glad that he 
had stood up so persistently for Greely, 
and was sorry that Benson had been preju- 
diced against him. He came down to the 
period when the unknown friend of the 
crew had presented them with the fund for 
the purchase of the boats and of the other 
things needed to bring the club up to date. 
And finally had come the affair of the stolen 
oar and of the footsteps in the sand and 
his journey that morning, culminating in 


182 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the plight in which he now found him- 
self. 

The boy’s condition was such by this 
time that he gave up the thought of getting 
out of the closet alive. Many thoughts 
crowded through his mind — Thorne, school 
and friends — ^but, curious to state, his 
bitterest regret was that he should not live 
to take part in the famous race between 
the Bell Haven boys and the Cleverly 
crew. If all of the wise and the whimsical 
thoughts that go through the human mind 
could be recorded there would be presented 
an array of pictures and images more won- 
derful and amazing than anything that 
has yet appeared in the printed page or on 
the canvases of the artist. Most persons 
experience these emotions at times without 
the power of translating them for the bene- 
fit of others. They came to Pinky Palmer 
now in a vivid and overwhelming way, a 
torrent of thoughts and fears and hopes, 
rushing and tumbling over one another in 
mad haste. 

He realized, in a sub-conscious way, that 
if he did not act quickly his end would 


Daylight and Darkness 


183 


be close at hand. But what could he do? 
He had hammered at that unrelenting 
door until his hands were sore and bleeding. 
He had shouted until he was hoarse. He 
pressed his hand across his hot brow with 
a gesture of despair. He ran his hands 
down his chest and legs in thoughtless 
fashion. Suddenly he felt a hard substance 
in his vest pocket that made him stand 
erect with surprise, and filled| his drooping 
spirits with hope. He put his hand down 
and joyfully drew forth a big, strong-bladed 
pocket-knife. Only the moment before 
he had been murmuring a prayer, and this 
unexpected discovery came to him like 
an immediate answer to the prayer. He 
opened the largest blade of the knife and 
by running his finger lightly across the 
edge found that it was fairly sharp. 

He was weak and his head was spinning, 
but he went to work with a resoluteness 
that was part of his natural character and 
part of the desperation of the situation 
in which he found himself. He felt across 
the smooth surface of the door until he came 
to the keyhole. He drew an imaginary 


184 


The Bell Haven Eight 


circle around this and then started to dig 
into the wood with his knife. It was un- 
yielding at first, but once the penknife got 
beneath the surface it became only a ques- 
tion of time and patience. Presently the 
chips were falling pretty regularly and the 
pain-stricken youngster knew that he was 
making an impression on the stubborn 
door, and that if he remained conscious 
long enough he would effect his liberty. 

Two or three times he was obliged to halt 
from sheer weakness and nausea. But each 
time he resumed with redoubled energy 
and the determination to succeed or die 
in the attempt. Strength was needed, 
but he also had to take care lest the blade 
of the knife should break. While he worked 
he wondered how long he had been impris- 
oned in this awful place. He could not 
even make a guess, but he was sure that 
it must have been hours. There were 
blisters on the palm of his right hand, and 
after awhile he felt a curious little moisture 
that made the knife slip occasionally, and 
then he knew that he was bleeding. But 
he thought nothing of that. AU he longed 


Daylight and Darkness 


185 


for was the tiniest breath of fresh air. He 
felt that the merest whiff would give him 
courage and strength to finish the task he 
had undertaken. 

He felt a great weakness and then he 
became faint and would have fallen back on 
the fioor of the closet if he had not grasped 
the frame of the door. It was at this stage 
of the contest that the strong character of 
Pinky Palmer asserted itself . He pulled him- 
self together by a violent effort of the will. 
He gritted his teeth and mumbled: 

^HVe got to do it! IVe got to do it!'' 

It was almost as though a man were try- 
ing to call himself back from the dead. 
His body was limp, and if he had not leaned 
heavily against the door as he worked he 
would surely have tumbled to the ground 
like a bundle of old clothes. Stars were 
shooting across his eyes and an awful pain 
racked his head, but still he hacked away 
with the jack-knife. Just when it seemed 
that aU but hope had gone he was roused 
by feeling the knife slipping away from 
him. He was filled with the fear of drop- 
ping it, and that partially roused him from 


186 


The Bell Haven Eight 


his stupor. But no such misfortune was 
impending. The reason was more joyful. 
The knife had at last penetrated the thick 
board, and had made a tiny hole not much 
thicker than the blade. Pinky worked 
more rapidly after that and in another min- 
ute was rewarded by a ray of light and air. 
He put his nose to the hole and drank in the 
life-giving atmosphere with the gluttony 
with which a starving man attacks food. 

After that the task was to make the 
aperture big enough to cut away the lock 
and open the door. The boy went at the 
job with renewed energy, but it did not 
take long to prove that he was overestimat- 
ing his strength. He dug away persistently, 
however, and he could see the hole getting 
bigger and bigger. It would not take 
many more slices, with the aid of that faith- 
ful weapon, to work his way to life and 
liberty. He was thinking of this when 
he felt a queer sensation at the pit of his 
stomach. He found himself falling heav- 
ily. The brooding silence seemed to take 
possession of him. He saw stars and then 
came black night. 


CHAPTER XIV 


THE FAITHFUL TRAMP 

O N the morning of the day that 
Pinky Palmer started on his iU- 
fated investigation of the foot- 
prints in the sand Bobby Benson arose 
later than usual. He dressed hastily and 
managed to reach the refectory before 
the close of the breakfast hour. Bobby 
had hoped to have a brief chat with his 
friend concerning the boat crew, but to 
his disappointment found that Pinky was 
not there. Inquiry proved that he had 
not reported for the morning meal. A 
trip about the grounds failed to discover 
him in any of his usual haunts. This 
seemed singular and presently Bobby gave 
up the quest in the expectation of having 
a word with him in the class room. But 
to his surprise Palmer was not there. The 
usually absent-minded Professor Brown 
also noticed the absence of the red-haired 

( 187 ) 


188 


The Bell Haven E ght 


and freckle-faced one. He called Bobby 
to his desk. 

Benson/^ he said, ^^what^s the matter 
with Palmer this morning?’^ 

don^t know,” he replied truthfully 
enough. 

^Hs he sick?” 

sure I can^t tell you,” answered the 
puzzled boy. ^^He went to bed all right 
last night, but when I got up this morning 
he was not there. I looked around for him, 
but I couldn^t find him.” 

Tiberius scratched his neck with the end 
of a ruler and gazed thoughtfully through 
his steel-rimmed spectacles. 

sorry he^s not here,” he said finally; 
^^it will go against his record for the 
month, and I hate to see that. I was 
beginning to hope that he had stopped his 
pranks and ” 

^'Oh, Professor,” interrupted Bobby, with 
boyish loyalty, sure that he’s not 

absent from any fault of his own. I know 
from talking with him how much — 
much ” 

^^Well,” exclaimed Tiberius, with a trace 


The Faithful Tramp 


189 


of impatience, ^^he should be here and if 
you think you can find him 1^11 excuse you 
for that purpose.” 

Thank you,” responded Benson, start- 
ing away at once; “if he^s in Bell Haven 
IT have him here sure.” 

Once out of the room, he made a bee 
line for the boat house. He had an idea 
that Pinky might have gone there and, 
becoming absorbed in his hobby forgotten 
to report for school at the regular hour. 
Reaching the place, he found Adam stand- 
ing on the porch. 

“Hello,” he called without any cere- 
mony, “you^re just the man I want to 
see. I^m looking for Palmer. Have you 
seen him?” 

“Sure,” replied the janitor. “I was 
talking to him in the boat house this 
morning.” 

“Is he there now?” 

“No.” 

“Where is he?” 

“Blest if I know. It^s been an hour or 
so since I met him. We had quite a chat, 
but before we got through I had to hurry 


190 


The Bell Haven Eight 


to the station, and when I came back here 
he was gone. I s’posed he was in school.’’ 

At this point in the conversation Tramp, 
the yellow dog who was regarded as the 
joint property of Bobby and Pinky, came 
running up and began rubbing his pudgy 
nose against Benson’s leg. 

Hello, old fellow,” said Bobby, stoop- 
ing down and patting the animal on the 
head. What’s the matter with you?” 

To his surprise Tramp began to whine 
in a most pitiable manner. After that he 
looked up with an expression of extreme 
pathos in his brown eyes. Bobby thought 
maybe he had been injured in some way 
and he got down on one knee and began to 
examine him. But he appeared to be per- 
fectly sound. Benson was about to speak 
to Adam again when the dog resumed his 
whining. It seemed almost human and 
expressed a degree of grief that was dis- 
tressing. 

What’s the matter with the poodle?” 
laughed the janitor. 

“Not knowing, can’t say,” was the light 
retort. “If we could only get some one 


The Faithful Tramp 


191 


that talks the dog language we might have 
those whines interpreted/’ 

Adam stroked his white beard tenderly. 
He turned his shrewd old eyes on the boy. 

^^Son,” he said, with gravity, ''don’t you 
forget one thing, and that is that dogs have 
a language, all right. We may not under- 
stand it, but that is our fault and not the 
dog’s. I’ll bet my tobaccy money that that 
there kay-oodle is a tryin’ to tell you 
somethin’. I’ve had a lot to do with dogs 
and horses in my time, and I’ve found that 
many of ’em have more feehn’ than a lot 
of two-legged animals. So don’t you go 
to makin’ fun of that there Tramp. Maybe 
he’s tryin’ to teU you somethin’ you’d give 
a lot to know.” 

Bobby sat down on the steps of the boat 
house and took Tramp on his knees and 
caressed him as a mother would her child. 
That seemed to comfort him some, but at 
intervals he let forth plaintive little cries. 
Once or twice he wagged his stump of a 
tail as much as to say that he was going 
to try and be cheerful although it would 
cost him an effort. ^ Bobby whispered 


192 


The Bell Haven Eight 


caressingly in his ears and this mark of 
confidence seemed to comfort Tramp more 
than anything else. 

^•Well, son/^ called Adam, who had been 
watching the performance with amused 
interest, ^^has he told you anything yet?’^ 

^^Not yet,^’ was the cheerful response, 
^'but I think he’ll tell me everything in 
his own good time.” 

The venerable one stroked his beard sev- 
eral times and then turned away. 

'^I’ve got to go,” he said with a twinkle 
in his kindly eyes. ^^I’m not like young 
men that can waste the whole mornin’ 
nursin’ yeller dogs.” 

He left, but Bobby still sat there gazing 
into the brovm eyes of the homely canine. 
His mind reverted to the day he had 
picked Tramp up in Burlingham and thus 
saved him from the cruelty of a harsh 
owner. No dog could possibly have been 
more grateful than this hitherto much 
abused animal. His bed was in a soap 
box in the room of Bobby and Pinky. He 
divided his affection pretty evenly between 
his two masters, but if such a thing be 


The Faithful Tramp 


193 


possible he showed a slight preference for 
the irrepressible Pinky. Once Palmer had 
accidentally stepped on one of his paws 
and his ^^ki-yi — ki-yi — ki-yi’’ nearly roused 
the school. But when the red-haired one 
had picked him up and fondled him and 
Tramp realized that the injury was not 
intentional, his gratitude knew no bounds. 
It was while Bobby was thinking of this 
that the solution of the dog^s distress 
flashed upon him. 

“By Jove!^' he cried, jumping to his 
feet so suddenly that Tramp was over- 
turned. “I know what it means. He^s 
grieving for Pinky.^’ 

The stub-tailed one must have under- 
stood. Maybe the name of Pinky attracted 
his attention. At all events, he began to 
prance about and to “ bow-wow with the 
air of an animal that has finally succeeded 
in making himself understood. The agita- 
tion of the dog affected Benson. He picked 
him up and gave him a grateful hug and as 
he laid him down again said to himself: 

“I wonder how in the world we could get 
along without dogs!^^ 


13 


194 


The Bell Haven Eight 


They started in the direction of the 
Academy and at every few yards Tramp 
paused and acted in a manner that con- 
firmed Bobby’s theory. He had been 
Pinky’s companion on many a walk and 
now he gave every evidence of wanting to 
locate the missing boy. Once he trotted 
into a side path much used by Palmer and 
putting his nose to the ground moved along 
as though he were in quest of a lost scent. 
It ended in nothing, and at a loss to 
account for his failure to find the trail of 
his absent master, he ran out and rubbed 
his nose against Bobby’s legs. As they 
came in sight of the class room Tiberius 
Brown happened to come into the yard. 

Hello, Benson,” he saluted. Have you 
found Palmer yet?” 

“No,” responded Bobby gravely, “and 
I’m beginning to fear something may have 
happened to him.” 

“What do you mean?” asked the teacher, 
stopping short and putting his hands to 
his hips. 

Briefly and clearly Benson related the 
result of his inquiries and ended by telling 


The Faithful Tramp 


195 


of the curious actions of Tramp. Tiberius 
gazed at the dog as if he were some rare 
object of pre-historic dogs and said finally: 

believe that animal may help you to 
locate Palmer. I tell you what to do. 
You go in and finish your morning lesson 
and after that I’ll excuse you for the after- 
noon. You can take one of the other boys 
with you. Palmer’s been a troublesome 
fellow in some ways, but I really wouldn’t 
want anything to happen to him.” 

And shaking his head from side, to side 
and peering absently through his steel- 
rimmed spectacles, the Professor proceeded 
on his way. 

As soon as the noon recess was declared 
Bobby prepared to continue the search for 
his missing friend. His first thought con- 
cerned a fellow searcher. Tiberius Brown 
had given him permission to take another 
boy along, and the problem now was who 
that boy should be. His natural choice 
would have been the Sleeping Beauty. He 
was big and strong and athletic, and there 
was no doubt of his great regard for Pinky 
Palmer. But while Bobby was debating 


196 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the matter in his mind Gordon Greely 
crossed the campus and in that moment 
Benson had made his choice. 

Gordon he called, “I want to see you 
a minute.’’ 

Greely halted and crossed over to where 
Benson was standing. He looked at him 
curiously. 

^^What do you want?” 

want you to help me to find Pinky 
Palmer.” 

The swarthy-complexioned one wrinkled 
his brow in perplexity. He wondered 
whether Bobby was trying to have fun at 
his expense, and his words encouraged this 
suspicion. But Benson soon assured him 
of his sincerity, and after that Greely 
cheerfully agreed to go along with him. 
They took Tramp with them and as they 
were leaving the Academy grounds they 
were joined by Adam, the janitor. 

^^You want to start from the boat 
house,” instructed that worthy, ^^and you 
want to give this here purp a smell of some 
of Pinky’s old clothes. That’s the way to 
go about a man hunt.” 


The Faithful Tramp 


197 


“This isnT a man hunt/’ grinned Bobby; 
“it’s only a boy search, and besides 
Tramp’s not a bloodhound.” 

“I know that, all right,” agreed Adam, 
“but it’s a mighty poor dog that hasn’t 
some sense of smell. You jest give him a 
start an’ see if he don’t do the rert.” 

This seemed reasonable enough, so Tramp 
was escorted to the boat house and given a 
sniff at a lot of old clothes that were found 
tucked away in Pinky Palmer’s locker. 
The dog pranced around the moment he 
got a smell of the garments and began to 
bark in a delighted manner. He acted, in 
short, as if he expected to see his master at 
once. When he found that this was not to 
be he whined most dismally. 

But presently they got started, and 
Tramp astonished them by going ahead like 
a regular pointer. He kept his nose near 
the ground and sniffed and pawed from 
time to time as though he knew just what 
they expected of him and as much as to 
say that he was on the scent and would not 
fail them. Adam watched these canine 
performances with special interest. 


198 


The Bell Haven Eight 


'^That dog/^ he said, '^acts like an Irish 
setter. An^ I^d swear he was one if I 
didn’t know that he was jest a plain every- 
day barnyard yellow dog. But he’s kinder 
got a manner that gives me confidence in 
him.” 

They had gone about two miles by this 
time, over untraveled fields, and with 
nothing to encourage them to expect 
success. A sort of gloom had fallen on the 
little party. Bobby voiced this feeling 
when he spoke. 

wish I had your faith,” he said, ^^but 
I’m afraid that old Tramp is leading us a 
wild goose chase.” 

Don’t you believe any sich thing,” 
exclaimed the old man. ^^He’s not the 
kind of an animal to fool you. A man 
may be deceitful and treacherous, but a 
dog never is. Why, the year I went 
abroad I visited the grave of a dog that 
saved the lives of forty people. He was a 
big St. Bernard that lived in the Alps. 
Ever since then I’ve had a mighty lot of 
confidence in dogs.” 

They plodded on in silence for the next 


The Faithful Tramp 


199 


few miles. Tramp always kept some yards 
ahead of them and at intervals he would 
stop and paw the ground as if it contained 
a special reminder of Pinky, or else he 
would look about in a helpless manner as 
though he had lost the trail. All of them 
were becoming skeptical when they came 
in sight of an old Colonial house. Tramp 
made a leap for the porch and ran upstairs 
at full speed. 

The others made an examination of the 
lower part of the premises. While they 
were doing this they were attracted by the 
loud barking and whining of the dog. It 
seemed to be a combination of canine joy 
and sorrow. Bobby led the procession, and 
as he gained the head of the stairway he 
saw a form prostrate on the floor of the 
front room. The dog was licking the out- 
stretched hand of the stricken one. Benson 
hurried into the room and as he did so gave 
a cry of horror. 

And no wonder, for the form that lay 
there motionless was that of his chum. 
Pinky Palmer. 


CHAPTER XV 


THE BURDEN BEARERS 

I T was a startled group that gathered 
about the prostrate body of the young 
captain of the Bell Haven crew. His 
very silence filled them with awe. Pinky 
had always been the one that set the table 
in a roar and his quips and jests were the 
life of every party. It seemed singular to 
see him so quiet. The freckled face was 
very white now, and the hands that got 
into mischief so easily were quite motion- 
less. 

All three knelt down beside him, but it 
was Bobby Benson who grasped his chilled 
hand. Bobby was dry-eyed, but there was 
a big lump in his throat that threatened to 
strangle him. He felt a curious sense of 
desolation and he could teU that his lips 
were parched and that his head was burn- 
ing. It all came in a few seconds, too, for a 
minute before he had been jesting and 
( 200 ) 


The Burden Bearers 


201 


laughing with Adam in spite of his anxiety 
over his missing friend. Now he was 
oppressed with a sense of loss. The sensa- 
tion came over him the moment he saw 
Palmer stretched on the floor. It had all 
occurred in the time it takes to turn the 
page of a book. 

Pinky he cried finally, gulping and 
fervently pressing the hand he held in his. 

Pinky, it^s me, Bobby. Speak to me — 
do you hear — say something!’’ 

But there was no response and Benson 
could feel the tears surging into his eyes 
and that awful lump in the throat filling 
him with a choking sensation. 

Gordon Greely was frightened without 
having the same sense of inconsolable grief 
as Bobby Benson. His swarthy face was a 
shade darker than usual and his keen eyes 
flashed from side to side with nervous 
activity. Otherwise he appeared to be 
unmoved. Adam was the most practical 
of the three. He looked serious enough, 
but he wasted no time in lamentations. 
He leaned over and pressed his big right 
ear over that part of the body which cov- 


202 


The Bell Haven Eight 


ered Pinky’s heart. He looked up the next 
moment with satisfaction pictured on his 
homely face. 

It’s all right,” he announced. Guess he’s 
fainted or somethin’ like that. Can’t some 
of you fellows scare up a cup of cold water.” 

Bobby and Gordon rushed from the room 
together, but it was Benson who first 
located the ancient pump in the rear of the 
premises. He had no cup to carry the 
water in, but he quickly solved the prob- 
lem by pulling oflF his cap and holding it 
out while Greely manipulated the wooden 
handle of the pump. He ran back at full 
speed and, under Adam’s direction, dashed 
the cap of water in Pinky’s face. It was a 
heroic remedy and it worked. 

The prostrate boy stirred uneasily. He 
lifted his arm and it fell across his chest. 
Next there was a fluttering of the tired 
eyelids and they opened long enough to 
gaze in wonderment at the group about 
him. Tramp detected the movement and 
he gave a bark of delight. This time the 
eyes opened with less effort and Pinky 
remarked in a puzzled way: 


The Burden Bearers 


203 


Hello, fellows. What^s the matter?’’ 

'^That’s just what we’d like to know,” 
cried Adam in his positive manner. 

Pinky raised himself on one elbow and 
rubbed his eyes with a dirty fist. He 
sighed heavily once or twice, and then said, 
with conviction: 

'Ht seems like a horrible dream!” 

Bobby Benson, unable to restrain his 
emotion any longer, threw his arm around 
Pinky; then as if suddenly ashamed of 
the display he pulled back. Greely, who 
had remained quiet up to this time, now 
joined in the conversation. 

^‘Tell us how it happened. Pinky,” he 
said. We’re all burning up with curios- 
ity.” 

“Hold on, there,” commanded Adam. 
“You want to get the youngster a drink of 
water before he does any talking.” 

This time Bobby managed to find a big 
tin can and when he brought it to Pinky, 
filled with clear water, the freckled one 
gulped it down without pausing to get his 
breath. The drink refreshed him, and 
sitting up he told them the story of all that 


204 


The Bell Haven Eight 


had happened to him from the time he left 
Bell Haven until he lost consciousness. 
The door of the closet apparently had given 
way the moment his dead weight had fallen 
against it. It was wide open now, with a 
gaping hole where the lock should have been 
— a mute testimonial of Pinky^s skill with 
the jack-knife. As he finished, he looked 
about him with a startled air. 

Where is he?’^ he cried. ^^Did any of 
you see him?’^ 

“Who? asked Adam. 

“Why, the devil that locked me in the 
closet.’^ 

“What can you remember about him — 
apart from what youVe already told us?^^ 
Pinky rubbed his hand across his eyes 
as if to clear his vision. 

“He looked like a pirate and he had a 
mouth like a mad dog. I remember that 
he wore a flannel shirt. He had a thick, 
coarse black mustache and when he opened 
his mouth his bared teeth and his red 
gums made me think of an animal. But,’’ 
with a momentary pause, “maybe he’s 
here yet.” 


The Burden Bearers 


205 


That sent Bobby and Gordon scurrying 
about the house while Adam remained and 
talked with Pinky. They returned in a 
few minutes with the information that no 
one was in sight. 'V\Tien they returned 
to Pinky he was caressing Tramp and call- 
ing him all the pet names at his com- 
mand. 

don’t blame you a bit/’ commented 
Bobby. ''That yellow dog saved your 
life. If it hadn’t been for him you might 
have died before we reached you.” 

Pinky acknowledged the truth of this by 
hugging Tramp to his bosom. The canine 
responded with a series of short barks and 
a wagging of his stump of a tail. Adam, 
who watched the performance very atten- 
tively, spoke presently with the air of a 
judge of the Supreme Court of the United 
States handing down a decision. 

"That there dog is going to dog heaven 
when he dies,” he said. "There ain’t no 
manner of doubt about it.” 

"In the meantime,” laughed Bobby, 
"we’U try to give him a heaven on earth.” 

"That’s easy,” declared the oracular 


206 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Adam. '^All you need to do is to say a 
kind word to him now and then. That^s 
all any dog asks and that’s somethin’ a 
good many of ’em don’t get.” 

“Well, he’ll get the good word, all right,” 
promised Pinky, “with an occasional bone 
thrown in for good measure.” 

By this time the little party began to 
realize that it was time they had started 
home. It was long past three o’clock and 
they had quite a journey before them. 
Pinky, who was seated on the floor, now 
made an effort to arise. To his surprise, 
he found it difficult to do so. Bobby took 
his arm and assisted him to his feet, but 
almost immediately the freckle-faced one 
sank down again with a cry of pain. 

“My ankle’s sprained,” he groaned; 
“I can’t stand on it.” 

Adam examined his right foot and found 
that it was terribly swollen. 

“Must have happened when you fell 
out of that closet,” he commented. “I 
guess you just twisted it when you were 
doin’ that circus stunt on the floor.” 

The three rescuers flopped on the floor 


The Burden Bearers 


207 


and gazed at Pinky with glances of mock 
despair. 

“We’re awfully polite/’ grinned the white- 
bearded janitor. “If you can’t stand up 
with us, we’re a-goin’ to sit down with you.” 

“What in the world are we going to do?” 
asked Bobby, nervously running his hand 
through his brown hair. 

“I don’t know,” teased the old man, 
“unless you ring for a taxicab.” 

The notion of such a modern convenience 
being found in the wilderness caused a 
ripple of laughter. They discussed the 
advisability of sending one of the number 
to Bell Haven for a carriage, but it was 
already so late that that was out of the 
question. It was Gordon Greely that 
made the suggestion which was adopted 
after a brief debate. 

“I’ll carry him on my back,” he said. 
“I’ve got the strength, and I’m willing 
to do it.” 

“I’m afraid it’s too far,” remarked 
Adam, dubiously. 

“I’ll help Gordon from time to time,” 
volunteered Bobby. 


208 


The Bell Haven Eight 


This was agreed to, and the work of 
lifting Pinky Palmer on Greely’s back 
was accomplished without much difficulty. 
The job had to be performed with care, 
for the least jar caused intense pain to the 
injured ankle. In a few minutes the re- 
turn home was begun with the captain of 
the Bell Haven crew tightly clutching his 
broad-shouldered friend about the neck. 
Pinky ^s sense of humor did not desert him. 

^^This reminds me of the old game of 
piggy-back,’’ he chuckled. 

Who’s the pig?” asked Bobby. 

Well,” interjected Adam, with his drawl, 
^^Greely’s the donkey — ^you’ll have to g-uess 
who’s the pig.” 

“It seems to me the porker’s getting the 
best of the, game,” laughed Pinky. 

Greely proved to be a very competent 
burden-bearer. He had not overstated 
the case when he said that he had the 
strength for the undertaking. Benson 
wanted to relieve him after the first half 
mile, but he said he could easily go ahead 
for a mile without stopping to rest. For- 
tunately, Palmer was not heavy and he 


The Burden Bearers 


209 


somehow managed to hold on in a way 
that did not make him a dead weight. 

Both Pinky and Bobby felt grateful 
to Greely. Bobby^s thoughts included 
an occasional feehng of remorse at the 
manner in which he had misjudged the 
swarthy-faced one in the early part of the 
session. He had looked on the big fellow 
as a grouch^' and as a boy who would 
not hesitate to stoop to mean and petty 
things. Even at best he had been inclined 
to regard him as the black sheep of the 
Bell Haven Academy. He was forced to 
admit that if that had been the case in the 
beginning he had by this time changed his 
color in a surprising and gratifying manner. 

At the end of the first mile Bobby in- 
sisted upon relieving Gordon of his bur- 
den. The change was not made without 
some pain and discomfort to Pinky Palmer. 
The outcries of the red-haired one caused 
Adam to look at him with mock reproach. 

^^Say, Pinky,” he said, '^youVe got the 
hardest cheek of any boy I ever met. If 
I was Bobby and Gordon I^d drop you 
in the road and let you lay there.” 


14 


210 


The Bell Haven Eight 


guess you’re right, Adam,” agreed 
the light-hearted fellow; ^^but all the same 
I don’t believe they’ll do it.” 

They traveled in silence for a long 
while after that. When Bobby became 
tired Gordon took the injured captain on 
his back, and so on until the journey was 
completed. It was noticed that the nearer 
they came to Bell Haven the lower Pinky’s 
spirits became. At times he looked posi- 
tively glum. 

What’s the matter. Pinky?” asked 
Bobby. ^^You look like a fellow that’s 
lost his grandmother.” 

^H’m thinking about the boat race,” 
was the despondent reply. 

^^Well, what of it?” 

^'A whole lot. If I’m laid up in bed I 
can’t direct the crew — I may not even be 
able to take part in the race.” 

^'Oh, cheer up; you’ll be all right long 
before that time.” 
hope so.” 

It was dark when the burden-bearers 
reached Bell Haven and placed the injured 
captain in his room. The first thing they 


The Burden Bearers 


211 


did was to get him some nourishment. 
After that the world began to take on a 
brighter hue for Pinky. Finally they sent 
for a doctor, who examined the swollen 
ankle. He pronounced it a bad sprain. 

^^You^U be all right, he declared,’’ but 
you must stay in bed and give this leg a 
chance to rest.” 

* ^^How long will that be. doctor?” asked 
the boy, anxiously. 

' “Less than three weeks — ^if you obey 
orders.” 

And Pinky’s gloom all left him, for he 
knew now that he would be able to take 
part in the practice and pull an oar in the 
great race. 


CHAPTER XVI 


A TESTIMONIAL TO TRAMP 

P INKY PALMER was a popular 
hero at Bell Haven for many days 
after the episode of the locked closet. 
He sat in a dressing gown in his room, 
with his sprained ankle resting on a chair, 
and received the homage of the boys who 
had never been fortunate enough to meet 
with such a thrilling adventure. A few 
of the youngsters were openly skeptical, 
but the majority received the narrative 
with perfect confidence. Pinky was com- 
pelled to repeat it again and again, and 
he was just human enough to add little 
touches which made it more romantic, but 
not a whit more dramatic than it had been 
in fact. 

In the meantime the affair had its serious 
side, which engaged the attention of the 
local police. It was reported as soon as 
Pinky reached Bell Haven and the officers 
( 212 ) 


A Testimonial to Tramp 


213 


had made an investigation on the following 
morning. What they discovered was of 
little consequence. They located the house, 
but there was nothing in or around it to 
indicate the whereabouts of the piratical 
man with the teeth and gums like an 
angry dog. The house had been unten- 
anted for years. It was one of those 
abandoned mansions that dotted the coun- 
tryside, and that were without any use, 
apparently, except as landmarks. 

The chief of police of Bell Haven 
interviewed Pinky in his room, and after 
that formality was over seemed to be at 
a loss as to what he was expected to do 
next. Like the famous Mr. Dogberry, 
he was uncertain what charge could be 
lodged against the unknown criminal. The 
mere shutting of a closet door did not 
appear to be provided for in the laws. 
Bobby Benson, who was present during 
the examination, said, with some feeling, 
that if Pinky had smothered to death the 
man who had locked him in the closet 
would be guilty of murder. That puzzled 
the officer, who said that he would have 


214 


The Bell Haven Eight 


to take time to consider that aspect of the 
case. It was the practical Pinky who 
brought the talk to a close with a sensible 
suggestion. 

^^You get the man/^ he said, '^and Vll 
make a charge against him.^’ 

The policeman left them, shaking his 
head dubiously, and the boys burst into 
a laugh, fully convinced that no practical 
results would come from that interview. 
They were satisfied, however, that the 
man with the wolfish mouth was con- 
nected with the theft of Pinky Palmer’s 
oar. Just why he had taken that and 
left the other valuable things in the boat- 
house was more than they could under- 
stand. 

During the days of his forced confine- 
ment Pinky had the congenial company of 
Tramp. The dog seemed to appreciate 
the fact that he was being highly favored 
and he asked no more than the privilege 
of sitting at the boy’s feet and looking up 
into his eyes with a glance that was full 
of love and affection. Pinky on his part 
undertook the task of teaching Tramp a 


A Testimonial to Tramp 


215 


few tricks. Benson had laughed at this 
on the assumption that a plain, ordinary, 
yellow dog did not have sufficient intelli- 
gence to do any more than get out of the 
wet when it was raining. He paid full trib- 
ute to Tramp^s loyalty and to his keenness 
in leading them to Pinky, but he insisted 
that this represented devotion rather than 
brightness of intellect. Besides, he said. 
Tramp was old, and it was a well-known 
fact that an old dog could not be taught 
new tricks. 

But Pinky persisted nevertheless, and in 
the course of ten days he had accomplished 
some remarkable results. To start with, 
he had taught Tramp to fetch and carry. 
The dog would trot down in the morning 
and come upstairs carrying the newspaper 
with him. After that he induced the ani- 
mal to stand on his head. The antics of 
poor Tramp while he was learning this 
difficult trick were amusing enough to 
bring a smile to the face of a cigar-store 
Indian. But the best performance of all 
was when he stood up on his hind legs, 
with a little hat on his head and holding a 


216 


The Bell Haven Eight 


corncob pipe between his teeth. As may 
be imagined, all of this caused Pinky's 
room to be the gathering place for most of 
the boys of the school. They laughed and 
applauded so much that Tramp's head 
would have been turned if he had been a 
foolish man instead of a sensible dog. 

While all of this was going on Palmer 
had not forgotten the boat club. Indeed, 
it filled his thoughts by day and was the 
subject of his dreams at night. He chafed 
under his forced confinement and longed 
for the day when he could get outdoors 
once again and take personal charge of 
the training work. But in the meantime 
he kept in touch with the oarsmen through 
Bobby Benson. Bobby was his other self. 
He carried Pinky's orders to the members 
of the crew and he did all in his power to 
keep the boys at work. He was very suc- 
cessful in this because he still retained his 
popularity, not only with the members of 
the boat club, but with most of the boys 
in the school. Each night he would call 
on his friend and give him a report of the 
doings of the day. Pinky would listen 


A Testimonial to Tramp 217 


attentively and issue orders for the follow- 
ing day. 

By this plan the practice was pursued 
very much the same as if Pinky Palmer 
had been in actual charge of the crew. 
He continued to make entries in his little 
green book and some of them made mighty 
interesting reading. He was careful to 
guard this diary from prying eyes. It was 
intended for his own use and he was re- 
solved that it should not be lost or mislaid. 
He had a system of his own by which the 
entries in the book were utilized in making 
up general averages for each of the aspiring 
oarsmen. 

During these trying days Pinky became 
greatly attached to Gordon Greely, who 
was a daily visitor. He was keenly grate- 
ful to the swarthy-complexioned one for 
the kindness he had shown him at the 
time of the accident, and he showed it in 
such a way as to win the good will of Greely. 
Nelson James was another frequent caller, 
and, curious enough, he, too, struck up 
an intimacy with the broad-shouldered 
Greely. It was one of the ironies of school- 


218 


The Bell Haven Eight 


boy fate that the tormentor and his victim 
should become such good friends. The 
Sleeping Beauty added to the joyousness 
of these informal gatherings by his uncon- 
scious humor. 

At night Pinky was in the habit of dis- 
cussing various phases of the boat race and 
on such occasions he was usually surrounded 
by Benson, Greely, James and Forbes, 
whom he had wittily dubbed his cabinet. 
Benson, he said, was secretary of state; 
Greely, secretary of the treasury; James, 
secretary of war; and Forbes, secretary 
of the navy. It was during one of these 
gatherings that Tiberius Brown called to 
ascertain the condition of the '^distinguished 
patient, as he called Pinky. He had 
walked into the room before he noticed 
the presence of the other boys. 

"I hope,’’ he said, in his stately manner, 
"that I am not intruding, gentlemen.” 

The youngsters were thrown into momen- 
tary confusion by being addressed as 
gentlemen, but Pinky recovered with his 
usual facility. 

"It’s all right. Professor,” he retorted 


A Testimonial to Tramp 


219 


merrily; ^^it^s only a meeting of the Presi- 
dent and his cabinet. We^re glad to have 
you here.’^ 

feel highly honored,” exclaimed the 
teacher, swinging his arm in the oratorical 
manner which he often affected; ^^and may 
I inquire as to the health of your 
Excellency.” 

^^It^s bully,” replied Pinky, lapsing into 
boyish lingo. ^^I'm able to walk three 
steps at a time now, and I expect to be out 
by the end of the week.” 

^^That is very gratifying, indeed,” said 
Tiberius in his stately way. 

^'It will take a heavy load off my shoul- 
ders,” remarked Forbes with mock dig- 
nity. 

^^And what might your position be?” 

“Me? Oh, I'm secretary of the 
navy.” 

“Why?” 

“Because he has such a horror of water,” 
interjected Bobby Benson before the Sleep- 
ing Beauty had a chance to reply. 

In the laugh that followed the teacher said 
good-by and glided through the door as 


220 


The Bell Haven Eight 


quietly as he had entered. After he left 
nearly every one present had a good word 
to say for Tiberius. The proof that he had 
won their affection lay in the fact that they 
ceased to make sport of him. His odd 
dress, his absent-minded ways and his 
curious name all combined to make him a 
shining mark, but while the boys continued 
to be aware of his eccentricities, they now 
contrived to take them as a matter of 
course. 

Four days later Pinky was himself again. 
He was delighted to be outdoors and he 
ran around with the zest and the liveliness 
of a young colt. The boys were unaffectedly 
glad to see him, especially as he loomed up 
in the light of a hero who has had adven- 
tures that are reserved usually only for the 
chief character in yellow-covered novels. 
It was not many hours before he learned 
that his recovery was to be celebrated by 
a feast in the refectory. He wondered 
what form the event was likely to take. 
He was not kept in doubt very long. Before 
the day was over he received a printed card, 
which said: 


A Testimonial to Tramp 


221 


Your presence is respectfully requested at 
a testimonial dinner to he given to 
TRAMP, 

the college mascot, in the refectory, at 
eight o^ clock this Tuesday evening. 

The cost of this affair had been placed 
at such a moderate sum that when the hour 
arrived the little narrow apartment was 
completely filled. The Sleeping Beauty 
occupied the chair, and on one side of him 
was Tramp, seated on a high stool with a 
big white bib tied about his neck. On the 
other was Pinky Palmer, with a grin that 
seemed to extend from ear to ear. The 
Academy orchestra furnished music for 
the occasion. Outside of Tramp and Pinky 
the only guest present was Tiberius Brown. 
He had protested against attending a dinner 
to a dog at first. He said the idea was ludic- 
rous, but in the end had consented, say- 
ing as he did so that Tramp, after all, was 
better than a great many men he had met 
in the course of his life. Now that he was 
actually present, he had no cause to regret 
his decision. It was a most hilarious affair, 
and it was hard to determine which was 


222 


The Bell Haven Eight 


having the best time, the boys, the man or 
the dog. 

Tramp was a bit puzzled, but evidently 
pleased. The lights, the noise, the music 
and the general air of warmth and good 
cheer were all reassuring, and he recognized 
enough of the diners to know that he was 
among friends. In addition to this he could 
not help but feel that he was being treated 
with distinguished consideration. He was 
served with each course, and although the 
waiters put their hands before their faces 
to hide their merriment, not one of them 
dared to laugh openly before the canine 
guest of honor. At the outset a plate of 
soup was placed before the dog, and he 
lapped it up with an eagerness which was at 
once a tribute to the cook and a proof of the 
heartiness of Tramp’s appetite. From 
time to time other food was placed before 
the animal on tin dishes, and he showed 
his good manners by eating it aU. Indeed 
he went so far as to lick the plate, which 
evoked laughter and long-continued ap- 
plause. 

The Sleeping Beauty, who was filled with 


A Testimonial to Tramp 


223 


a sense of his dignity and importance as 
presiding officer, turned to Tramp from 
time to time and engaged in conversation. 
Forbes used the English language and 
Tramp answered in his own tongue, which 
consisted of a series of short, sharp barks, 
indicating approval of all that was said to 
him by the Sleeping Beauty. Toward the 
end of the dinner the dog had become so 
accustomed to his surroundings and was so 
overcome by the quantity and quality 
of the food that was forced upon him that 
he slid back in his chair and went to sleep. 
This slight lapse from the proprieties, 
however, was only temporary. , Forbes 
leaned over and told the canine that it was 
not customary for a guest to snore while 
he was being honored. The reproof was 
effective, for thereafter Tramp sat up and 
was attentive to all of the proceedings. 

The climax was reached when Tiberius 
Brown arose, holding a little velvet box 
in his hands. He said that it contained a 
silver medal which had been subscribed, 
for by the boys of the Bell Haven Academy, 
and which he had been asked to present to 


224 


The Bell Haven Eight 


his very good friend, Tramp. The cheering 
that followed this announcement fairly 
shook the roof of the building. Thus 
encouraged, Tiberius went on to deliver a 
most eloquent tribute to Tramp and to dogs 
in general. He pointed out how they had 
been the friends of man from the dawn of 
creation down to that moment, and he 
described how Tramp had been the means 
of saving the life of Pinky Palmer. There 
was a lot of yelling at this point, but there 
was much real feeling behind it, and Pinky, 
who was a really tender-hearted boy, was 
observed to sniffle in a very unmanly way. 
Tiberius concluded by walking over and 
pinning the medal on Tramp^s collar, and 
then the scene that followed was a thing 
to live in the memory of all present. 

Tramp blinked a great deal at this stage 
of the dinner, but whether it was from 
emotion or the excitement of the occasion, 
no one was really able to determine. All 
of the boys stood up and joined in singing, 
^^For He^s a Jolly Good Fellow,” and 
Tramp helped the chorus along by barking 
at the top of his voice. After that he 


A Testimonial to Tramp 


225 


jumped on the table and each one of the 
diners walked past and shook him by the 
paw. Once or twice he yelped for good 
measure and all the time he kept wagging 
his stump of a tail. 

It was surely a red-letter night in the 
life of that poor yellow dog. He had never 
dreamed in all of his canine career that he 
would be so highly honored. It was an 
unusual dissipation for him too, but the 
boys did not omit a single one of the things 
that were necessary to prove how much 
they thought of him, and as a chmax of the 
occasion Pinky and Bobby escorted him 
home and saw that he was tucked in his 
bed in the old familiar soap box. 


19 


CHAPTER XVII 


IN THE SUGAR BARREL 

B obby and Pinky sat together for 
some time discussing the affair of 
the night. Pinky, who nearly always 
acted as though he were strung on wires, 
was more nervous than usual. He ran his 
fingers through his bright hair and rubbed 
the end of his knob-like nose until it 
had become as vivid as his hair. Pres- 
ently he arose with an impatient ges- 
ture. 

^H^m going to take a walk around the 
grounds. IT never go to sleep if I get into 
bed feeling the way I do now.’’ 

Bobby looked at his friend in amaze- 
ment. He wondered whether^ he was in 
earnest, but the look in Pinky’s face showed 
that he was serious. 

^Ht’s a risky business,” commented Ben- 
son. “You know it’s against the rules 
to be out of the dormitories this time of the 
( 226 ) 


In the Sugar Barrel 


227 


night and if Dr. Maury hears of it, there’s 
no telling what he might do.” 

^^Well, he won’t hear of it — unless you 
tell him.” 

Bobby flushed to the roots of his hair 
and looked at Palmer with reproachfulness 
in his big brown eyes. 

'^You know better than that, Pinky,” 
he cried. “You know there was a fellow 
expelled last week for staying out all night, 
and I am only warning you to save you from 
trouble; otherwise I wouldn’t say a word. 
I’m only doing this for your own good.” 

“I don’t want to be done good,” retorted 
Pinky, tempering the sharpness of his tone 
with a good-natured smile. 

He hurried downstairs and when he got 
into the yard found that the night had 
become dark and drizzly. He started at 
a rapid gait in the direction of the boat 
house. Naturally no one was in sight. 
His intention was to walk about for ten 
minutes and then return for bed. Uncon- 
sciously he found himself becoming inter- 
ested in the aspect of Bell Haven after 
dark. The buildings looked like grim 


'^28 


The Bell Haven Eight 


monsters with the dim light in a window 
here and there suggesting the bleary eyes 
of some awful beast. The trees stood out 
like gaunt sentinels, but the Arlington 
River seemed most impressive of all. Its 
surface was dark and sinister, as if it were 
hiding dreadful secrets. 

While he was in this brooding humor 
Pinky came near the boat house. It was, 
if anything, more gloomy than any other 
part of the waterside. Suddenly Pahner^s 
ears were attracted by the sound of crackling 
leaves and immediately afterwards two 
shadowy figures passed in front of him. 
He shivered, partly from fear and partly 
from surprise. He moved forward hastily, 
but could see no signs of any living thing. 
He wondered whether he had been dream- 
ing. The dreariness of the night combined 
with his gloomy thoughts might easily have 
caused his imagination to play tricks on 
him, yet Pinky was not the sort of a boy 
to be carried away by illusions, either 
during the day or at night. 

He wondered vaguely whether it was 
another case of robbers, and the moment this 


In the Sugar Barrel 


229 


thought came into his head he hurried to the 
door of the boat house. To his great 
relief it was locked. His first impulse was 
to get out his key and gain admittance to 
the building, but wiser second thought 
told him that this would be a very foolish 
thing to do at such an hour of the night. 
He might be taken for a burglar and that 
would be decidedly unpleasant. Adam, 
the janitor, was in the habit of prowling 
around during the night, and he possessed 
an ancient pistol that he would not hesitate 
to use if the circumstances warranted it.. 

Walking away from the porch of the boat 
house. Pinky made his way to the river 
front. As he drew closer his earlier impres- 
sions were deepened. The Arlington looked 
dark and forbidding indeed. Not a sound 
could be heard except the monotonous 
rippling of the waters as they made their 
way toward the sea. Presently Pinky 
aroused himself and started in the direc- 
tion of the Academy. As he reached the 
boat house he was startled by the pattering 
of footsteps. Some one was walking around 
the place. He stood still and the next 

\ 


230 


The Bell Haven Eight 


moment a thin stream of light coming from 
a bulFs-eye lantern sent its rays along the 
ground. It was carried by a clumsy- 
looking individual. He was not alone. 
Another and smaller man accompanied 
him. They approached the spot where 
Pinky was standing. The boy was startled. 
It was too late to run and he was afraid 
to tackle two men by himself. A large 
empty sugar barrel stood by the side of the 
boat house. In less time than it takes to 
record the words, Pinky had made his 
decision. Grasping the rim of the barrel 
firmly, Palmer lightly and surely drew him- 
self up and dropped into the bottom of the 
receptacle. 

For a long while he lay there as quiet as 
a mouse, listening intently for the slightest 
sound. Presently he heard a scraping noise 
and felt that the two intruders had seated 
themselves on the steps of the boat house 
porch. They began to talk and from what 
they said and the tones of their voices 
Pinky reached a number of conclusions. 
The first was that the newcomers were a 
man and a boy. One of the voices was 


In the Sugar Barrel 


231 


heavy and harsh with almost guttural 
accents, and the other was a sort of shrill 
soprano. 

Pinky also decided that they were for- 
eigners. He was not quite certain how 
to place them at first, but finally concluded 
that they must be Italians. Last of all, 
he was convinced that they were criminals 
either in fact or intention. Honest men 
were not in the habit of prowling about 
at that hour of the night, and Pinky’s 
brief view of the bull’s-eye lantern satisfied 
him that they were professionals. His 
first glimpse of the older man’s face was 
hazy, but in a subconscious sort of a way 
he felt that it was the same person who had 
locked him in the closet of the empty 
house. Crouched in the bottom of the old 
sugar barrel. Pinky, with his eyes shut and 
breathing as softly as possible, could easily 
picture the piratical scoundrel with his 
heavy black mustache, his savage teeth 
and his red gums. 

Presently the men on the porch began 
to talk, and this time, fortunately for the 
eavesdropper, they talked in English. It 


232 


The Bell Haven Eight 


was badly broken English, to be true, but 
it served his purpose. He strained his ears 
in order not to miss a single word that 
passed between them. It was the big 
fellow that spoke first. 

“Don’ta speak no more,^^ he said. ^^We 
maka one gran’ mistake when we no break 
into the boat house.” 

^'You’re wrong,” came the reply in plainer 
English. ‘^Your mistake was when you 
stole that oar. I told you not to take it. 
Why did you do it?” 

“What’s da matter weeth you?” growled 
the other. “It makes no deeferance to you. 
I gotta da oar to row my boat.” 

“It makes a big difference,” snapped the 
youth. “You’ve got a right to stick to 
business. What you want to do is to find 
the place where you put the stuff. If it’s 
a case of ordinary stealing I’m agin’ it. 
The whole layout’s not worth the risk you’ve 
got to run.” 

Pinky in his confinement could mentally 
see the older Italian spreading out the palms 
of his hands and shrugging his shoulders 
as he replied: 


In the Sugar Barrel 


233 


^‘You smarta boy, but de oF man ees 
just so good as you. Da firsta theeng dat 
you mus’ know 

''Oh, cut out that hot air,’’ interrupted 
the young one irreverently, "an’ tell me 
where you put it — ^if you ever put it any- 
where.” 

"It ees in the ground, so help me ” 

"Never mind that,” cut in the youth for 
the second time. "Show me the map.” 

"You no talk so quicka,” cried the other. 
"There ees no map. But if you geeve me 
time I finda the spot.” 

"You’ve had time to burn and you 
haven’t found any spot. You brought me 
here and we tore up the floor and we didn’t 
get a thing. I’m gettin’ sick of the whole 
business. You talk as if you had wheels 
in your head. Do you ’spose I’m goin’ to 
run the risk of bein’ run in just to humor 
you? Where did you put it?” 

"It ees here,” was the half-crying reply. 
"Joe he coma and hide it so sleeck. He 
run away so fast ees he can go. An’ then 
he coma back an’ all is changed. Da ole 
boat house ees gone away. A new one ees 


234 


The Bell Haven Eight 


here. An’ it ees over the groun’ where Joe 
he hide eet.” 

That’s what you told me before,” was 
the angry retort. We broke into the place 
and what did we get? You’ve been dream- 
ing, Joe. That’s what’s the matter with you. 
I don’t believe you know what you’re talking 
about. This is the second time you’ve 
brought me out on a wild goose chase and 
I don’t propose to stand for it.” 

To emphasize his disgust the young man 
arose and walked angrily to and fro. 
He strode in the direction of the sugar 
barrel and in a fit of rage gave it a savage 
kick. Pinky curled up like a dog and gave 
a shiver of apprehension. The thought of 
being discovered sent little chills up and 
down his spinal column. The outlaws — 
for they could be nothing less — were evi- 
dently desperate and there was no telling 
what they might do with him if they found 
him under existing circumstances. 

Presently the two fellows sat down again 
and began to talk in whispered tones. 
Pinky could not understand what they 
were saying, but he pondered over what he 


In the Sugar Barrel 


235 


had already heard. There was no longer 
any doubt but what the thief who stole 
the oar and the man who had locked him 
in the closet were one and the same per- 
son. 

He wondered in a vague sort of way if 
it would be possible to catch him and hold 
him until help arrived. It would surely 
be a great achievement. But he knew in 
his heart that he would be helpless against 
two persons, especially when they were 
unscrupulous and fighting for their liberty. 
His . limbs began to ache. They were 
terribly cramped from lying in such an 
uncomfortable position in the bottom of 
the barrel. Thoughtlessly he stretched 
them, and he could hear the staves of the 
barrel groaning. 

^^What^s that?'^ cried the young man, 
jumping up in sudden alarm. heard 
something!^’ 

“Eet ees nothing,’^ said the older one. 
^'You are so nervous.’^ 

Nervous the dickens,’^ ejaculated the 
youth, as he hurried toward the end of 
the house, peering to the right and left. 


236 


The Bell Haven Eight 


“I’m sure that I heard some one creeping 
around here.” 

“If eet ees we mak’ him seeck,” and 
Pinky in his place of concealment knew 
that the fellow had brought forth a knife 
for the purpose of illustrating his threat. 

“I got a gun, as far as that goes,” 
commented the young scoundrel, “but we 
don’t want to have any fireworks around 
here if it can be helped.” 

Pinky Palmer felt the gooseflesh coming 
out all over his body. He scarcely breathed 
and lay perfectly motionless. All thought 
of provoking a fight with the two scamps 
had left his mind. His only desire now was 
to escape without any injuries. They 
were thieves undoubtedly, but just what 
else they were besides that was more than 
he could fathom. As he lay there he heard 
the clock in the steeple of the Bell Haven 
Academy strike one. He wondered if he 
would be compelled to lay in the barrel all 
night. It reminded him of his adventure 
in the locked closet, although in this case 
there was more ventilation than was neces- 
sary. Indeed, he was beginning to shiver 


In the Sugar Barrel 


237 


from the raw air. Just at this stage in his 
meditations he was aroused by the voices 
of the conspirators. 

“I^m a-goin^ home/^ cried the young man 
impatiently. ^^If you think I^m goin’ to 
sit around all night like a bump on a log 
you're mistaken." 

“I tal you w'at I do/' said the big fellow. 
^^We jus' go away tonight and I thinka 
where to hunt and then we coma back some 
other night." 

^^All right," grunted the youth. 
don't care what you do as long as we go 
home and go to bed." 

Pinky heard their footsteps gradually 
dying away as they crunched the dry 
leaves beneath their feet. Finally there 
was perfect silence. He felt now that it 
would be safe to come from his place of 
concealment. Slowly he arose until he had 
reached a standing position, after which 
he awkwardly leaped out of the barrel. 
He stretched both arms and gave a sigh of 
relief. He felt sore from head to foot as a 
result of his long confinement. He knew 
that it would be folly to attempt to go after 


238 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the two men, and that it was impossible 
to get help without raising a general alarm, 
and that would prove very embarrassing 
under the circumstances. So he walked 
to his room stiffly and undressing threw 
his tired and chilled body on the bed. He 
went to sleep quickly enough, but it was a 
troubled sleep, for all that night he tossed 
about and dreamed of pirates, sugar barrels 
and other strange and disconnected things. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


THE OLD COFFEE POT 

W HEN Pinky Palmer awoke the fol- 
lowing morning he felt numbed 
from head to foot. It was as 
though some one had beaten him with 
a club. The experience he had under- 
gone outside of the boat house was 
amply sufficient to account for these dis- 
agreeable sensations. It had been a 
raw night and in addition to that the 
cramped position he had been compelled 
to maintain in the bottom of the sugar 
barrel was sufficient to cripple a less 
robust youth. 

He was anxious to share the story of 
his adventure with some other person and 
naturally he turned at once to Bobby 
Benson. Pinky had the power of graphic 
narration, and he did not overlook any 
details that might add to the picturesqueness 
of his story. Bobby listened with open- 

( 239 ) 


240 


The Bell Haven Eight 


eyed wonder, and when his chum had 
concluded exclaimed: 

^^What are you going to do about it?” 

“What can I do?” asked Pinky with a 
gesture of despair. “I couldn’t chase them 
last night and it is too late to do anything 
today.” 

“I don’t know about that,” suggested 
Benson. “It seems to me that you ought 
to make a complaint to the police.” 

Palmer shrugged his shoulders. 

“What’s the use? We have been through 
that already and it didn’t amount to a hill 
of beans. You know what we did at the 
time I was locked up in the empty house. 
The police promised to find out all about 
that and we have not heard a word since. 
I’m afraid there’s no use going to that 
quarter again.” } 

“Maybe not,” admitted Bobby, “but ^ 
I think it would be a good thing if we talked j 
to somebody else about it.” ) 

“Well, I’m agreeable. Who would you^i 
suggest?” 

“Dr. Maury.” j 

Pinky threw out his hands to indicate the i 


The Old Coffee Pot 


241 


alarm that filled his mind at the mention 
of the president of the Academy. 

don’t want to do that,” he said. 
‘^You know I was out after hours and if 
I admit that I had broken the rules the 
doctor may take a notion to disciphne 
me.” 

^^How about Tiberius Brown?” 

Pinky shook his head. 

'^He won’t do either. He means well, 
but he wouldn’t know where to start with 
a thing like this. We’ve got to get some- 
body that’s downright practical. I ” 

^^Wait a minute,” interrupted Bobby. 
^H’ve got the very man. It’s old Adam, 
the janitor.” 

think you’re right,” said Pinky. 

We’ll see him at the noonday recess and 
maybe he can give us some good advice.” 

The two boys felt very important that 
morning. It is no small matter to possess 
a secret, especially when that secret happens 
to concern a sensational adventure in the 
middle of the night. It took great self- 
restraint on the part of both Pinky and 
Bobby to keep from telling the story to 
la 


242 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the other boys in their room. Indeed, 
there were times when Pinky was fairly 
consumed with the desire to go up to the 
desk and confide the whole business to 
Tiberius Brown. He could imagine the 
amazement of the teacher and he quietly 
chuckled to himself as he thought of the 
startled questions that would be put to him 
by the eccentric tutor. However, he did 
not yield to the desire and as soon as the 
morning session was over started in search 
of the venerable janitor. 

He found him in the college stable polish- 
ing the old Germantown wagon which the 
old man regarded with almost loving rever- 
ence. Bobby Benson had preceded him 
and given the janitor an inkling of his 
mission. 

Bobby here tells me that youVe got a 
good story for me,’^ remarked Adam, 
pausing in his work and looking at the 
newcomer with curiosity. 

^^Yes, I have,'’ said Pinky, ^^but I 
wouldn't like to talk about it where any 
one else is likely to hear us." 

That's easy," said Adam. We'll just 


The Old Coffee Pot 


243 


pull this door shut an^ bar it an^ we^U be as 
secret an^ as snug as if we were in a cave/' 

Suiting the action to the words, he arose 
and closed the big doors of the stable and 
then threw a big board across them in 
order to guard the place from intrusion. 
Then he walked over and seated himself 
on an armless chair, waving his hand to 
designate two soap boxes for the boys to 
sit upon. 

'^Now," he said, stroking his beard in a 
judicial manner, ^Hhe court is ready to 
hear any evidence you may have to offer." 

Pinky proceeded to tell the story of his 
adventure at the boat house. He described 
the appearance of the man and the youth 
who were prowling about the place and how 
he had jumped into the sugar barrel in 
order to avoid them. The old man was 
very much interested in the narrative and 
asked a number of questions, especially 
concerning the conversation that took place 
between the two thieves. He scratched 
his head and stroked his beard repeatedly, 
and finally said: 

^H'm beginnin' to see daylight in this 


244 


The Bell Haven Eight 


business. I think weVe got what the 
detectives call a clue, an' if you boys are 
willin' to help me I think we can get at the 
bottom of this confounded mystery." 

We're willing to do anything you say," 
agreed Pinky, speaking for himself and his 
chum. 

^^All right, all right," ejaculated Adam. 
^^You two youngsters meet me at the boat 
house at ten o'clock tonight." 

^^But we have to go to bed at nine," 
protested Bobby. 

The old man laughed and pulled at his 
beard two or three times before replying. 
When he spoke it was in a quick and jerky 
way. 

''All right. You go to bed at nine 
o'clock, but get up at ten an' meet me 
where I said; an' when you come bring the 
key of the boat house with you, an' have a 
box of matches an' some candles. We may 
want to do some burglarizing on our own 
account." 

This was agreed to by the boys, who 
left the old man, wondering what was the 
meaning of this appointment in such an 


The Old Coffee Pot 


245 


unusual place at such an unusual hour. 
After the afternoon school session had 
ended Pinky and Bobby devoted the re- 
mainder of the day to boat practice on the 
Arlington River. They were both in good 
condition and were eagerly looking forward 
to the big boat race which was scheduled 
to take place two weeks from that day. 
Pinky had obtained an oar to replace the 
one that had been stolen from the boat 
house, and while it answered his purpose 
it did not seem to be nearly so effective as 
the original one. 

At the appointed hour that night the 
two boys quietly stole from their room in 
the dormitory and made their way to the 
boat house by the river side. Adam was 
there awaiting them. To their surprise 
the old man was loaded down with tools 
and utensils of one kind or another. He 
carried a pick and shovel in one hand and 
in the other a hatchet and hammer and a 
package of nails. The boys looked at these 
things with some surprise, but the venerable 
one merely laughed and said: 

^^Open the door and let^s go inside as 


246 


The Bell Haven Eight 


soon as possible. We don^t want to 
attract no attention.'' 

Bobby put the key in the lock and the 
next moment the three of them silently 
stole into the darkened and deserted build- 
ing. Adam laid down his burden and then 
lit a candle. After that he tiptoed around 
the room and pulled down the shades. 
He grinned at the youngsters as he did so. 

Somebody might come by and think 
there was burglars in here. We've got to 
be careful, you know." 

Pinky at this point turned to the old man 
and said in a determined voice: 

^^Adam, you've got to put us wise. 
What's the meaning of all this? We're 
entitled to know and you must tell us 
before we go any further." 

^^Sure," was the genial response. ^H've 
got a theory about this business an' I'm 
goin' to put it into practice. I've been 
a-puttin' two an' two together an' I've 
come to the conclusion that them fellows 
you went up against last night have buried 
somethin' valuable in this neighborhood. 
They've been a-tryin' to locate it an' 


The Old Coffee Pot 


247 


haven^t succeeded. Now where would it 
be? Ill tell you. It^d be under the floor 
of this boat house. You know that when 
you had the house rebuilt it was extended 
over a portion of the old ground. That^s 
just where we’re standin’ now. I propose 
to take up the boards at this end of the 
room an’ see what’s under them.” 

see,” said Pinky slowly. never 
thought of that. Maybe there’s something 
in it.” 

^^Well,” agreed the old man heartily, 
“we’ll soon And out, an’ if you fellows mean 
business you better get to work at once.” 

They did get to work at once and in 
earnest. In a remarkably short time the 
flooring at the far end of the boat house 
had been torn up and as soon as the dirt 
presented itself the boys began to operate 
the pick and shovel. Adam in the mean- 
time had lighted four or five more candles 
and the flickering flames cast their shadows 
over the strange scene. Pinky used the 
pick while Bobby manipulated the shovel. 
In a little while quite a heap of dirt had 
been piled up on one side of the floor. 


248 


The Bell Haven Eight 


“Jiminy/^ cried Pinky wiping the per- 
spiration from his brow, ^^but this is a 
harder job than I expected. I wonder if 
we^re ever going to strike anything.'^' 

The words were hardly out of his mouth 
before the point of the pick hit something 
that gave forth a metallic sound. Adam 
got down on his hands and knees at once. 

'^Be careful, boys,^^ he cautioned, “I 
think we^re goin’ to strike ile very soon.’^ 
They'continued digging for a few minutes 
more and then Pinky stooping down picked 
up a large old-fashioned coffee pot. It was 
very heavy and the lid was fastened by 
pieces of wire that were drawn around the 
utensil. He laid it on the floor, and Bobby 
helped him to withdraw the wiring. Then 
they opened the lid, and as they did so all 
three of them drew back with a gasp of 
surprise. 

And no wonder, for the old coffee pot 
was filled to the brim with shining five- 
cent pieces. 



The Old Coffee Pot was Filled to the Brim 


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I . 


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Hi 



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CHAPTER XIX 


ADAM ON THE TRAIL 

I T is an awkward thing to have a big 
coffee pot filled to overflowing with five- 
cent pieces, on your hands. At least 
Pinky found it so, and the guardianship of 
that pile of money left him with a very 
uncomfortable feeling. The first sensation 
was one of great elation. The miners that 
first struck gold in California could not 
have felt happier than Palmer and Benson 
at the moment the spade hit the lid of the 
old coffee pot and they realized what they 
had discovered. They were filled with a 
mighty sense of power. Monte Cristo in 
his most exalted moments could not have 
experienced greater ecstasy. The money, 
at Adames suggestion, had been carried to 
Pinky^s room, and after much debating was 
hidden under the mattress. 

From that moment poor Pinky began to 
feel the tortures of mind common to misers 

( 249 ) 


250 


The Bell Haven Eight 


and that are supposed to afflict the over- 
rich. Suppose some one should enter the 
room and make away with this pot — ^not of 
gold, but nickels? Suppose the chamber- 
maid should find it when she was changing 
the bedclothes? Suppose a hundred and 
one other things that did not happen should 
happen? It is hardly nceessary to say that 
the boy spent a very uncomfortable night. 
He slept by fits and starts, but it would be 
far from the truth to say that he rested. 
When he arose in the morning the subject 
still oppressed his mind. 

While he was dressing he discussed the 
matter with Bobby Benson, but the talk 
led to no definite conclusion. Indeed, it 
only added to their mutual distress because 
Bobby suggested all sorts of uncomfortable 
possibilities. Both were inclined to blame 
their predicament on the sin of curiosity. 
Bobby said so in plain words. But that 
accusation irritated Pinky, who retorted 
that he was perfectly justified in hunting 
for his stolen oar, and that if he had not 
done so he would have been a good-for- 
nothing bone-head who deserved to have 


Adam on the Trail 


251 


the shirt taken off his back, and other 
warm words to the same effect. While 
they were talking there came a sharp rap 
at the door that made them start as if they 
had been guilty of some crime. Pinky 
turned the key and peered into the hall. 
He drew a sigh of relief. The early morn- 
ing caller was Adam. He was quickly 
admitted and the door closed and locked. 
The janitor turned to them with a comical 
look on his venerable face: 

^^Well,’’ he inquired, ^^how are my feller 
conspirators this morning?^’ 

Pinky had all he could do to suppress a 
shiver. He did not like the word. It did 
not sound a bit funny to him. 

wish you wouldnT talk that way,^^ 
he remonstrated; ^Hhis is serious business.’^ 
“You kin jest bet your life it is,’^ ad- 
mitted the old man, “an’ I’m hopin’ it’ll 
turn out all right, for my own sake as well 
as yours.” 

This was a disquieting reply and did not 
help to dispel the air of gloom that hung 
over the dormitory room. However, it 
hastened a request that Pinky had been 


252 


The Bell Haven Eight 


considering from the time he got out of 
bed. 

“Say, Adam,’^ he said, “youVe got to 
take that pot of nickels. You can do any- 
thing you like with ’em.’’ 

“Ex-cuse me!” exclaimed the old man, 
with a prolonged emphasis on the last 
syllable of the first word, “but I’m not 
huntin’ fer trouble.” 

“But surely,” cried the boy, running his 
fingers through his red hair, “you are not 
going to leave us in the lurch?” 

“Who said anything about leaving you 
in the lurch?” was the indignant retort. 
“What I’m thinkin’ about is what to do 
next. In the meantime you’ve got to keep 
the stuff here. I haven’t any place to put 
it.” 

“All right, but what do you propose to 
do next?” 

Adam stroked his white beard, as was his 
custom when he was deliberating. 

“I’ve been a-thinkin’ a lot about this 
business,” he said. “I’ve got a suspicion 
in my own mind, but I don’t want to tell 
you what it is jest yet. If you’ll let me 


Adam on the Trail 


253 


have a handful of them coins I’ll take ’em 
to town, and I think I’ll be able to report 
progress before the day’s over.” 

^^You can have two handfuls,” exclaimed 
Pinky. ^^You can have anything you 
want if you’ll only get us out of this mess.” 

^^Tut, tut!” responded the venerable one. 

Don’t you try to make this worse than it 
is. We’re not in a mess at all. If nec- 
essary we can go to Doctor Maury and lay 
the whole business before him.” 

^'I don’t think I’d do that — at least, not 
yet,” said Pinky hastily. 

“I don’t think so either,” agreed the old 
man. ^^And now if you’ll let me get at 
that pot I’ll take some of them coins with 
me and see what I’m able to do with ’em.” 

Cautiously Pinky and Bobby lifted the 
mattress off the bed and pulled out the 
rusty coffee pot from its hiding place. The 
sound of some one passing along the hall- 
way made them postpone operations. It 
was an indication of the nervous state into 
which they had worked themselves. Pres- 
ently the footsteps died away in the dis- 
tance and Pinky raised the receptacle on to 


254 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the little table and lifted the lid. As 
before, it revealed a mass of shining nickels. 
Adam, with a grunt, put his hand into the 
pot, and drawing forth a fist full of the 
coins, slipped them into his coat pocket. 

^^Now,’^ he said, mum’s the word until 
I see you again.” 

The two boys replaced the utensil under 
the mattress, and then locking the door of 
the room so that no prying person could 
get in, went down to the refectory for 
breakfast. On the way they stopped and 
asked the chambermaid not to bother with 
their room for that day at least. She 
readily promised. As they left the girl 
Pinky turned to his friend. 

Bobby,” he said, ^Hhat doesn’t seem 
natural, does it?” 

^^It certainly does not,” was the reply, 
think that this is the first time we’ve 
ever bothered about locking the door of our 
room since we came to Bell Haven.” 

Neither Bobby nor Pinky seemed to be * 
able to get down to their lessons that day. 
Pinky tried hard enough, but without 
success. A trail of nickels seemed to run 


Adam on the Trail 


255 


across his books. When he opened his 
atlas to refer to some disputed question the 
money appeared to cover the maps. It 
ran across his English lesson and insisted 
on intruding itself in his history test. He 
did not pretend to be much of a Bible stu- 
dent, but he recalled with approbation the 
text which declared that the love of money 
was the root of all evil. He thought the 
day would never end, but it did end finally, 
as all days have a way of ending. 

As he left the school room he looked for 
Adam, but was disappointed to find that 
the janitor had not ’ yet returned from 
town. He knew that Adam had some 
commissions to perform for Dr. Maury, and 
these, with the matter of the curiously 
found nickels, no doubt accounted for his 
delay. But in spite of that reasonable 
inference he felt disturbed. What if some- 
thing had happened to Adam? What if he 
had gotten into trouble with the police? 

While these thoughts were rushing 
through his mind he heard the familiar 
cry of ^^gid-up’’ and beheld the old man in 
the well-known wagon urging Maud S. to 


256 


The Bell Haven Eight 


greater speed. He could tell by the eager 
look on the countenance of the venerable 
one that he was the bearer of great news, 
and he rushed to meet him, full of excite- 
ment. 

^^Well,” he exclaimed, ''what is it?’^ 

"Not a word,’^ was the stern response, 
"until IVe delivered these things and put 
Maud in the stable. 

And he stuck to this resolution with 
Spartan-like fortitude. Pinky in the mean- 
time had to possess his soul in patience. 
It was hard, but he made the best of it. 
Even after the horse had been taken from 
the wagon and placed in the stall the old 
man refused ta talk. 

"We^ll have to go to your room,^’ he 
said. "This is no place to gas about big 
things.” 

So they went to Pinky’s apartment with 
Pinky fairly bursting for information. It 
was decided only fair that Bobby Benson 
should be present at the momentous talk. 
After the three of them were in the room 
and the door had been locked, Adam, facing 
Pinky, cried out in his most dramatic voice: 


Adam on the Trail 


257 


^^Well, it’s jest as I thought!” 

‘^What is it?” they chorused in a fever 
of impatience. 

^'It’s counterfeit! Every blessed cent in 
that coffee pot is counterfeit!” 

What — ^what do you mean?” stammered 
Pinky. 

“Jest what I say,” was the triumphant 
retort; “it’s all bad money.” 

It took a full minute for the meaning of 
this unexpected announcement to sink in on 
the consciousness of the boys. After that 
Palmer broke the silence. 

“Why, I never heard tell of such a 
thing,” he protested. “Do you mean to 
say that anybody would go to the trouble 
of making a counterfeit of a five-cent piece? 
I wouldn’t think it would pay. Why, the 
trouble of making the ” 

“All the same,” interrupted the old man, 
“it’s true, and if you never heard of such a 
thing before it jest goes to show that even 
a schoolboy can live an’ learn. Why, son, 
they don’t stop at nickels. There are some 
dod-blasted fools in this world that stoop 
so low as to make counterfeit pennies. I 


17 


258 


The Bell Haven Eight 


don’t say it’s worth while. I know it 
ain’t. But it’s a fact jest the same an’ 
there’s no gittin’ away from it.” 

^^How did you find this out?” 

^^From the United States Government,” 
replied the venerable one, throwing out his 
chest with a sense of pride that could not 
be held down. 

^'From the Government?” queried Pinky. 
“What do you mean by the Government?” 

Adam stroked his beard with the loving 
movement that he employed when he was 
particularly pleased with himself. 

“You’re a great one for details,” he 
chuckled, “but I guess you’re entitled to 
them in this instance. By the Government 
I mean a man representing your Uncle 
Samuel. I took them coins to the agent 
of the United States Secret Service at 
Hedgewood. The minute he seen them he 
said they was ^phoney.’ You know by 
^phoney’ he meant they was bad ” 

“Yes, yes,” interrupted Pinky, “I know** 
what you mean. But go on.” 

“I would if you’d let me,” said the old 
man reproachfully, “but I can’t get no- 


Adam on the Trail 


259 


where if you^re goin’ to keep buttin^ in on 
me before I’m able to say two words in 
succession.” 

We’ll keep quiet,” promised Palmer, 
willing to humor the venerable bearer of 
news. 

^^Well,” continued Adam, ^^as I was say- 
ing, he knew the money was bad as soon 
as I showed it to him, and he naturally 
wanted to know where I got it. Then I 
up an’ told him the whole story, an’ you 
can bet he was a mighty interested man. 
He asked me a lot of questions an’ I 
answered them so well that he congratu- 
lated me on my clearness. That, you 
know, was a kind of a tribute to the Bell 
Haven Academy. Don’t you think so?” 

do, indeed,” replied Bobby; ^^but 
what did you do with the nickels?” 

^^Left them with him. He said they was 
evidence that he wouldn’t think of partin’ 
with under no circumstances. He said 
' he knowed about these bad nickels for 
: a long while, but that he couldn’t get on 
\the track of the fellows that have been 
imakin’ them. I told him about the 


260 


The Bell Haven Eight 


adventure you had in the empty house an’ 
he said he’d have given a whole lot if he’d 
have heard about it at the time it hap- 
pened. Pinky, you ought to have told it 
at that time.” 

Maybe I should,” admitted the boy, 
“but I never thought of counterfeiters at 
that time. However, it’s not too late yet, 
is it?” 

The old man smiled his shrewd, knowing ; 
smile. 

“Not on your hfe,” he cried. “He says 
he’s goin’ to go into this whole business, 
and that means a whole lot, cornin’ from . 
John Humphreys ” 

“John Humphreys?” interrupted Pinky ; 
inquiringly. 

“Yes,” said Adam, “that’s the name of ; 
the Secret Service agent. He’s cornin’ here ^ 
jest as soon as possible. I think he may | 
come tonight. It all depends on some. ] 
reports he’s waitin’ for. But he told me ‘1 
to be sure an’ post you two boys. He says** ; 
he’s a-goin’ to depend on you a whole lot. ’!! 
He’s real enthusiastic over the prospect of | 
catchin’ these varmints. They’ve given | 


Adam on the Trail 


261 


him no end of trouble. He says they^re 
wuss than the scamps that counterfeit 
twenty-doUar notes. They^re twice as 
hard to ketch. An’ these httle rascals are 
like skeeters botherin’ a great big noble 
elephant.” 

^^And what might be the elephant?” 
asked Bobby Benson. 

^'Why, the Government, of course,” re- 
torted the old man with just the slightest 
trace of peevishness. 

^'All right,” conceded the boy, “but it’s 
the first time I’ve known this Republic to 
be pictured as an elephant.” 

''Well, you’ve got to live an’ learn,” 
snapped Adam, who knew that his simile 
was rather vague; “an’ in the meantime 
both of you keep a sharp lookout for John 
Humphreys.” 


CHAPTER XX 


THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG 

I T was dusk and the boys had just come 
out of the refectory when an automo- 
bile glided up the path leading to the 
entrance of the Bell Haven Academy. 
Bobby and Pinky were standing there when 
the machine stopped and they watched 
it with considerable interest. The door 
opened and a man of medium height and 
quietly dressed alighted. Instinctively they 
realized that this was John Humphreys, 
the Secret Service agent who had been 
described to them by old Adam. The 
newcomer did not look like a detective or 
act hke one. He had the manners and the 
appearance of a college graduate, but he 
moved about with an alertness which car.- 
ried with it somehow or other a sense of 
power and responsibility. Pinky Palmer 
walked up to the man and looking at him 
said inquiringly: 


( 262 ) 


The Cat Out of the Bag 


263 


beg your pardon, but isn^t this Mr. 
Humphreys?” 

^Ht is,” was the quiet reply, ^^and if Tm 
not mistaken I have the honor of address- 
ing Mr. Pinky Palmer.” 

The boy flushed up at this unexpected 
recognition, but he mentally admitted that 
it was not surprising in view of his pro- 
nounced frecldes and his vivid red hair. 
Mr. Humphreys, however, did not waste 
much time on personalities. He evidently 
desired to get down to business as soon as 
possible. He turned to Pinky and began 
talking in a short, sharp, snappy way. 

^HVe had two of my men on this case 
ever since I received the first tip. IVe had 
several reports and I think IVe gotten the 
gang located. A good deal depends on the 
assistance you may be able to give me. 
IVe got to locate that empty house where 
you were imprisoned and after that I donT 
think IT have much trouble.” 

At this point in the conversation Pinky 
presented the detective to Bobby Benson, 
who had sauntered up and joined them. 
The introduction had scarcely been com- 


264 


The Bell Haven Eight 


pleted when Adam appeared on the scene 
and was warmly greeted by Mr. Hum- 
phreys. The detective looked at his watch. 

think we’d better start right away,’’ 
he said, and if you boys will get in the car 
we’ll see if we can’t locate that house 
again.” 

Bobby and Pinky climbed into the auto- 
mobile, but Adam hesitated. 

^^What^s the matter?” asked the officer, 
didn’t think you wanted me,” re- 
marked the janitor in an inquiring tone of 
voice. 

^^Well, I should say we did,” said Hum- 
phreys emphatically. ^^Jump right in — 
we couldn’t think of doing without you.” 

They were barely seated in the machine 
when Tiberius Brown came out of the 
Academy and walked down the path in the 
direction of the car. Humphreys found 
himself looking at the newcomer with a 
sort of fascinated interest. Tiberius was 
surely an unusual looking man. His tall,* 
thin, rawboned figure seemed to stand out 
in a way that made him quite different from 
the ordinary run of human beings. This 


The Cat Out of the Bag 


265 


evening, as usual, he wore his tightly fitting 
frock coat and the short sleeves exposed 
his bare wrists and made him look taller 
and thinner than he actually was. Pinky, 
who noticed the keenness with which the 
detective was eyeing the teacher, said: 

^^ThaPs Tiberius Brown, the assistant 
to the head master.’^ 

Humphreys nodded understanding^, 
thought he was going to speak to 
us,’’ he said. “That’s why I’ve been 
waiting.” 

By this time Tiberius had reached the 
car and was gazing at the janitor and the 
two boys with undisguised wonder. Pinky 
hastened to explain: 

“This is Mr. John Humphreys, an agent 
of the Secret Service, and he is on the trail 
of some counterfeiters — Mr. Brown. I 
think they’re the same fellows that stole 
my oar. I — I’m sure you’ll give us' per- 
mission to go away.” 

“Certainly, my dear Palmer,” said Tibe- 
rius in his customary oratorical manner. 
“If this is in the cause of justice I don’t 
see any good reason why you should be 


266 


The Bell Haven Eight 


detained. Also, the case interests me and 
you may recall that I promised to assist 
you in the investigation. I 

He did not finish the sentence, for 
John Humphreys had reached out and 
grasped him by the arm. 

You’re the very man we want,” he 
said with a good-natured laugh. ^'Come 
along with us and maybe you may be 
able to give us some good advice.” 

Before the absent-minded teacher real- 
ized what was going on he had been hauled 
into the car, the chauffeur had released 
the lever and the automobile was spinning 
across the country at a lively clip. 

Now that they were on their way, Tibe- 
rius accepted the situation in a very 
philosophical manner. Indeed, he showed 
evidence of being pleased with this un- 
expected ride in the fast-moving motor 
car. Adam was in his glory also. He 
talked to the Secret Service agent and 
chuckled over the evident consideration 
with which his remarks were received. 
Pinky on his part pointed out the route 
which he felt sure would lead to the old- 


The Cat Out of the Bag 267 


fashioned house where he had been locked 
in the closet and from where he had escaped 
almost by a miracle. It was almost dark 
when they reached this spot. The house 
was deserted and untenanted. Humphreys 
did not take the trouble to alight from the 
machine, but turned to the chauffeur and 
said: 

^^Go along this road for about a mile 
and then turn to the right.’’ 

The driver obeyed orders and once again 
the automobile was in motion and the 
little group of adventurers leaned back on 
the soft cushions and inhaled the crisp 
night air as they sped on their way. The 
turn in the road was reached in a few 
minutes and almost at the corner was a 
little farmhouse. A child stood on the 
lawn and curiously watched the machine 
as it approached that point. Humphreys 
halted the car and called to the girl. 

/'My child,” he said kindly, "is there 
another house at the end of this road?” 

The little one hesitated for a moment. 
She stuck the end of her thumb in her 
mouth and nervously pulled at her pinafore. 


268 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Finally, however, she spoke in a hesitating 
way: 

“Yes, sir. There's a bam down there — 
'bout half a mile from here, but they say 
it's haunted. 

“Haunted," echoed the detective, prick- 
ing up his ears. 

“Yes, sir," went on the youngster. 
“They say that ghosts come there at 
night. You can see lights in the windows 
and — little Bessie Campbell went there 
one night and saw two ghosts in that house 
all at the same time." 

“Are you sure they were ghosts?" 

“She was sure." 

“How near did she go?" 

“She looked in the big window of the 
barn." 

The detective asked no more questions. 
He pressed a silver piece in the palm 
of the little girl and for the third time the 
chauffeur was directed to go ahead. It 
was dark when they finally reached the 
suspected building. It was a big, roomy 
barn that stood almost in the center of an 
abandoned farm. There were large win- 


The Cat Out of the Bag 


269 


dows on various sides of the structure and 
at intervals there was a glare of light from 
within and flitting shadows of persons 
passing to and fro. 

There are the ghosts, all right, said 
Humphreys with grim humor; “and now 
if you fellows will do as I say weT see if 
we can’t capture them.” 

The automobile had stopped some dis- 
tance away from the barn and the boys with 
Adam and Tiberius Brown alighted and 
concealed themselves behind a big wood- 
pile. After that the detective crawled 
along the ground on his hands and knees 
until he reached the building. He lifted 
himself up slowly and obtained an un- 
obstructed view of the interior. Pinky 
Palmer, who had followed him up, whis- 
pered: 

“What do you see?” 

“Come here and look for yourself.” 

By this time they had all reached the 
edge of the barn and in answer to this 
invitation four pairs of eyes gazed into 
the interior of the building. 

“Looks like the Witch Scene from ^Mac- 


270 


The Bell Haven Eight 


beth, ’ murmured Humphreys in a low 
voice. 

And so it did. A fire was burning in the 
center of the room and over it was a big 
pot, held hanging in place by three heavy 
iron bars. Two men stood by and from 
time to time threw some kind of material 
into the boiling pot. For many minutes 
the group on the outside stood and watched 
this performance. Finally the detective 
turned to them and said: 

There ^s no use of waiting any longer. 
We may as well close this thing out here 
and now.’’ 

He stationed Bobby, Pinky, Adam and 
Tiberius Brown* at various points and 
then went to the door of the barn and 
tapped on it loudly with the butt end of 
a pistol. The two men on the inside 
responded at once and when they opened 
the door found themselves confronting the 
muzzle of a revolver. 

Hands up!” cried the detective. 

They obeyed without question. The 
chauffeur who had accompanied Hum- 
phreys, mysteriously produced two pairs of 


t 

1 


The Cat Out of the Bag 271 


handcuffs and quickly slipped them on the 
I wrists of the counterfeiters. Pinky recog- 
\ nized them at once as the two men who 
C had been talking on the night he crouched 
f in the bottom of the big sugar barrel. 
5 He noted also that the larger man wore 
(, big-soled hob-nailed shoes. 

J It was a most important capture. John 
I' Humphreys not only got the counter- 
1 ! feiters, but also obtained evidence of their 
misdirected cleverness. The caldron con- 
I; tained copper, antimony and block tin, 
t the material out of which they were manu- 
factoring their bogus five-cent pieces. 

: A large number of plaster-of-paris molds 
‘ were found in the shed adjoining the barn, 
some of them designed to make silver 
dollars and the others intended for dimes 
\ and nickels. A large quantity of counter- 
feit money was also discovered on the 
i premises. Finally, to make the thing 
complete. Pinky Palmer discovered his 
i missing oar. It was on a rack in the upper 
^ part of the barn, and to say that he was 
i delighted would be to put the matter mildly 
I indeed. 


272 


The Bell Haven Eight 


The prisoners were taken away in the 
motor car; the old man, who was evidently 
an Italian, being sullen and refusing to 
talk. The younger one, who spoke English 
with much facility, was more loquacious. 
He answered the questions of the Secret Ser- 
vice man without the slightest hesitation. 

^^What’s the use of kicking,^’ he said. 
^'YouVe got the goods on us and there^s 
nothing to gain by putting up a kick.’^ 

“How is it you permitted yourselves 
to be caught so easily? asked Hum- 
phreys curiously. 

“It^s all the old man’s fault,” he said 
with a leer. “We had our first place near 
Bell Haven. It was in the woods back 
of the old boat house. We had to leave 
there suddenly one day and we had that 
coffee pot full of nickels. It wasn’t con- 
venient to take them with us, so we buried 
them. When we came back a couple of 
months later the boat house had been 
built over the grave of that money. You 
know how we went there and chopped the 
floor up trying to find that pot of nickels. 
Well, fate was against us. We couldn’t 


The Cat Out of the Bag 


273 


locate the spot, but even at that we would 
have had no trouble if it hadn’t been for 
the persistence of this old fool. He kept 
going back there and on the second trip 
he insisted on carrying away that oar. 
Why he did so is more than I could under- 
stand. It stirred those boys up and that 
was our undoing.” 

The automobile halted at Bell Haven 
long enough to permit Pinky, Bobby, 
Adam and Tiberius Brown to alight, and 
then proceeded on its way to Hedgewood, 
where the prisoners were to be placed under 
lock and key for the night. Adam and 
Tiberius Brown went to bed at once, but 
Bobby and Pinky proceeded to the boat 
house where the stolen oar was placed 
in its old position with much satisfaction 
and a certain kind of ceremony. 

Bobby,” said Pinky after they had 
left the boat house and were on their way 
to their room in the dormitory, ^HVe got 
a feeling that that oar is going to bring us 
good luck. I’m sure that when I pull 
my old one on the day of the race it means 
we’re going to win the silver cup.” 


CHAPTER XXI 


READY FOR THE RACE 

I T was the day before the big race and 
all Bell Haven was on the tiptoe of 
expectation. The town was filling 
up with visitors, many of whom were 
graduates of the Academy who had gone 
out into the world and made a success in 
life, and all were devoted to the insti- 
tution where they had received their early 
training. There was a sort of holiday 
atmosphere about the quaint old town that 
seemed to change its very nature. It 
was as though an elderly maiden lady had 
attired herself in the latest Parisian styles 
and plunged into the whirl of modern 
pleasure. 

The residents of Bell Haven were doing 
all in their power to make it agreeable to 
the visitors. The little inn — ^the only 
place of entertainment of which the town 
could boast — ^had brushed up for the occa- 

m) 


Ready for the Race 275 


■ sion, but long before nightfall it was filled 
to its capacity. All of the available board- 
ing houses were utilized and public-spirited 
citizens threw open the spare rooms of 
their dwellings for the accommodation of 
visitors. It was truly a great event in 
; the life of the modest community and the 
; people apparently proposed to make the 
- most of it. 

The Bell Haven crew went on the Arling- 
ton River to take their final practice. 
Pinky Palmer, after many anxious moments 
and numerous conferences with Mike Mur- 
ray, the trainer of the school, had finally 
decided on the crew that he would pit 
against the Cleverly oarsmen. It differed 
very little from the eight that he had fixed 
in his mind for a long time past. Tony 
: Brill was to be the coxswain and Bobby 
^Benson the stroke oar. The other seats 
; were to be occupied by Forbes at number 
seven, Gordon Greeley at number six, 

: Tom Morgan at number five, Harry Baker 
lat number four, Eddie Prince at number 

1 three. Pinky himself at two and little 
Nelson James in the bow. It was these 


276 


The Bell Haven Eight 


nine men who stepped into the shining 
shell on that bright morning in June and 
their appearance was the signal for a 
round of cheering and hand-clapping from 
the spectators who lined the shore. 

Fortunately, everything went well from 
the start. Pinky, to his great delight, 
found that he was using his own oar with 
ease and vigor. Some of the others were 
a bit ragged at first in getting the stroke, 
but they soon settled down to that peculiar 
rhythmic pull of the oars that spells success. 
The Sleeping Beauty was uncomfortable 
for a while. He did not seem to be able 
to get properly adjusted in the sliding seat, 
but that lasted for less than half a minute 
and by the time they were in midstream 
he was working as well as any of the crew. 
The practice was over a three-mile course, 
and when the shell finally pulled in at the 
landing in front of the boat house it was 
conceded that the day’s work was all that 
could be desired. 

After the boys had gone to the dressing 
rooms and changed to their street clothes 
a message came to Pinky Palmer from Dr. 


Ready for the Race 


277 


Maury saying that he desired to see the 
members of the crew. Pinky was very 
much puzzled over this summons and 
wondered what it could mean. Neverthe- 
less, he did not waste any time in idle 
speculation, but lined the youngsters up 
and led them into the president's room 
in the main building of the Academy. 

Dr. Maury, who was seated in his 
revolving chair behind the familiar flat- 
topped desk, greeted them with a smile 
and a wave of the hand, saying: 

|^r./^Sit down, boys, and make yourselves 
comfortable.” 

1 They did so and sat staring at the head 
of the sqJiooI. It was Pinky as spokesman 
who opened the conversation. 

^^You wanted to say something to us. 
Doctor, I believe.” 

''Yes,” was the quiet response, with a 
smile and a wrinkling of the corners of his 
mouth. "I wanted to ask you if you knew 
what you were going to row for tomor- 
row.” 

"A cup, of course.” 

"What sort of a cup is it?” 


278 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Pinky scratched his head and his face 
showed signs of perplexity. 

^^Well — areally — never thought about 
a silver cup.’^ 

“It didn^t occur to you that there might 
not be any kind of a cup?^’ 

“Why, no,^’ said the boy, with a startled 
look. “I never thought of that.^^ 

“It was the same way with Cleverly,^' 
said the doctor, with a smile curling the 
corners of his mouth until it threatened to 
stretch across his face. “They took it 
for granted that there was a trophy.’^ 

“And isnT there? asked Pinky, his 
voice becoming shrill with eager inquiry. 

“Yes, there is one now, fortunately. 
Up until a week ago we didnT have any, 
but since then a kind friend has come to 
the rescue and has donated a suitable 
trophy that is to be contested for each year 
on the Arlington River. 

A look of great relief came into Pinky’s 
face and the boys seated about him joined in 
a general sigh of contentment. At the same 
moment, following the movement of Dr. 
Maury’s eyes, they noticed a covered object 


Ready for the Race 


279 


standing on a side table. As they glanced 
in that direction the President arose and 
walked over to the stand, and, lifting the 
brown flannel bag that hid it from sight, 
revealed to their delighted gaze a handsome 
double-handled silver cup. 

They gathered around the trophy and 
examined it with keen interest, and each 
and every one wondered whether it was 
destined to adorn the mantelpiece over 
the great fireplace in the main room of the 
Bell Haven Boat Club. 

That same afternoon the Cleverly crew 
arrived and were met at the station by a 
committee* representing the Bell Haven 
boys. The newcomers looked handsome 
and manly. Most of them were robust 
and broad-shouldered, and each of them 
carried himself with an air of assurance 
which created the impression that they were 
likely to be foemen worthy of the steel 
of the best-trained opponents. They only 
took time to register at the Bell Haven 
Inn before they started for the boat house 
and dressed for a practice row on the 
river. Their shell, a long, light, slender 


280 


The Bell Haven Eight 


craft, had arrived earlier in the day, and 
they lost no time in taking their places and 
pulling over the course. The Cleverly 
oarsmen got down to their work with con- 
fidence and precision, and those who had 
seen both crews at practice found it diflacult 
to determine in their own minds which was 
the better. 

More as a matter of courtesy to the visit- 
ors than from any personal desire or need, 
the Bell Haven crew concluded to take 
out their boat for the second time that 
afternoon, hence the visitors that lined the 
bank of the river were given the oppor- 
tunity of seeing the rival crews working 
together. They presented a very attractive 
appearance; the Cleverly boys with their 
white sleeveless shirts and a big blue letter 
^'C’^ on the breast of the garment, and the 
Bell Haven boys with their shirt fronts 
adorned with the bright red initials ^^B 
Altogether it was the most interesting sight 
that one could wish to see, barring, of 
course, the actual race. 

That night, just before the time for 
retiring. Dr. Maury sent a second message 


Ready for the Race 


281 


to Pinky Palmer. It was to the effect 
that a gentleman had arrived who wished 
to have the pleasure of personally meeting 
the members of the crew. The boys 
responded at once and when they reached 
the President's office they found him chat- 
ting with a tall, military man with smooth 
face and iron-gray hair. 

''Boys,’’ said Dr. Maury, "I wish you 
to shake hands with General Horatio James, 
a graduate of this school and now one of 
the most eminent lawyers in this country.” 

The stranger shook his head at the 
President as if protesting against this 
praise, but he turned to the boys eagerly 
and grasped the hand of each one with a 
' firmness and cordiality that won their 
instant good will. They realized very 
quickly that they were in the presence of 
the father of Nelson James, and they all 
regarded him with a good deal of frank 
curiosity. Pinky Palmer and Bobby Ben- 
son were especially interested in the per- 
sonality of the man. He chatted with 
them in the most affable manner and 
made them feel very very much at ease. 


282 


The Bell Haven Eight 


In the midst of their talk Dr. Maury 
exclaimed : 

'^Boys, there’s no use beating about 
the bush any longer. The anonymous 
benefactor who furnished the funds for the 
purchase of your shell, the barges and the 
fitting up of the club house generally was 
General James.” 

^'Doctor/’ exclaimed the lawyer, with a 
trace of annoyance in his tone, didn’t 
want you to say anything about that.” 

Maybe not,” was the calm response, 
^^but I’ve got a right to tell the boys, and 
what’s more, I want them to know that 
you are the donor of the silver cup for which 
they are going to contest tomorrow. If 
it hadn’t been for that they would have 
entered a contest which would have been 
prizeless. It would have been like produc- 
ing ^Hamlet’ with Hamlet out of the cast. 
Boys, I propose that you give three cheers 
for General James.” 

The cheers were given with a vigor and 
heartiness that could not be misunder- 
stood. As they died out, the General turned 
to his young friends and said: 


Ready for the Race 


283 


makes me feel young again to hear 
your youthful voices. I came here as a boy 
myself, and I can never forget my first 
sensations. Nearly ever boy who leaves 
home for the first time has to undergo that 
ordeal, and I can^t tell you how grateful 
I am that you have all done so much to help 
make it pleasant for my boy Nelson. I 
appreciate it, and I appreciate particularly 
what my friends Palmer and Benson did to 
banish that feeling of loneliness which Nel- 
son felt when he first came to Bell Haven. 
When he told me how much you had done 
for him, I made up my mind to do some- 
thing for yoh in return, and the opportunity 
came when I heard that you had formed a 
boat club. If you are pleased in the slight- 
est degree with what IVe done, I can only 
say that I^m equally pleased with what 
youVe done, so that we split even on that 
score. 

There were more cheers and then a gen- 
eral conversation, after which the boys 
withdrew and went to their rooms. Pinky 
and Bobby walked arm in arm across the 
campus, and as they entered the dormitory 


284 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the red-haired one turned to his chum and 
said impressively: 

Bobby, there ^s no use talking — bread 
cast on the waters is nearly always sure to 
return/’ 


CHAPTER XXII 


FORBES THINKS QUICKLY 

T he morning of the race dawned 
grayly and with a mist in the air. 
The waters of the Arlington River 
were rough and not calculated to present the 
ideal conditions for a boating contest. 
Pinky, standing in his room, gazed out 
of the window disconsolately. He had 
been looking forward to this great event 
for at least six months, and the thought 
of having it spoiled by bad weather was 
saddening. He dressed slowly and hoped 
for the best. By the time he was ready to 
go downstairs he went to the window the 
second time and to his dehght found that 
the skies were clearing and the wind abating. 
The affair was scheduled to start at ten 
o^clock, but an hour before that time the 
sun was shining brightly and there was not 
a ripple on the smooth waters. 

The town was ahve with flags and bunt- 

( 285 ) 


286 


The Bell Haven Eight 


ing, and nearly every one carried the three- 
cornered pennant of the Bell Haven Boat 
Club. But the Cleverly crew was not 
without admirers and supporters, and they 
did not hesitate to declare themselves. 
The greatest animation, of course, was 
about the river front. The bank was lined 
with beautifully dressed women, who had 
come to cheer the victors and to console 
the vanquished. Some were the mothers 
and others the sisters of the boys of the 
Academy, and the remainder were friends 
and admirers. The pupils were out in 
full force too, and they added to the gayety 
of the occasion by their free and easy com- 
ment upon the oarsmen. 

The towns of Cleverly and Burlingham 
had contributed largely to the number of 
the visitors, and there were also contin- 
gents from Hedgewood and other large 
cities. General James, who had done so 
much to make the affair possible, had a 
desirable position, and he was flanked on 
one side by Dr. Maury and on the other 
by Tiberius Brown, who felt a personal 
interest in the success of the Bell Haven 


Forbes Thinks Quickly 


287 


crew. Altogether the great elm trees along 
the edge of the river had never thrown their 
sheltering leaves over a larger or a more 
distinguished crowd. Some of the younger 
pupils paddled about in the water and man- 
aged to distract the attention of the audi- 
ence while they waited for the signal that 
was to announce the start of the big race. 

Presently the Bell Haven crew came out 
of the boat house and slowly made their 
way to the water^s edge. They were 
received with a shout of applause that 
must have been heard a mile away. Pinky 
Palmer, his ^feckled face beaming with 
eager expectancy, headed the line. It was 
truly a red-letter day in his life, and he 
felt the importance of the occasion. He 
bowed right and left in answer to the 
applause, and strangely enough felt none 
of the stage fright that might naturally 
come to a boy under such circumstances. 
Probably the exciting adventures he had 
passed through during the preceding forty- 
eight hours had keyed him up to such a 
pitch that he had forgotten he possessed 
such things as nerves. 


288 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Following him came Bobby Benson, his 
brown hair rumpled and his great big eyes 
glistening with interest. He knew that he 
had an important part to play as the stroke 
oar, and he was filled with a determination 
to\do his level best to uphold the honor 
and the prestige of the Bell Haven Academy. 
With it was an overwhelming fondness for 
his friend Palmer. He knew what it was 
to have the responsibility of a team in his 
keeping. He remembered how much Pinky 
had done to help him in winning the base- 
ball championship for the school, and he 
was resolved to pay the debt in full that 
day. His sh3mess was gone and he was 
filled with an intensity of purpose that 
showed itself only in his tightly closed lips. 
I • Gordon Greely came next, and his great 
chest and broad shoulders gave the partisans 
of the Bell Haven crew a wonderful con- 
fidence in the ability of their favorites. 
With him was Nelson James, proud in the 
knowledge that he was to pull an oar on 
that day of days. He realized that the 
eyes of a fond father were on him, and the 
fact filled him with a secret joy that would 


Forbes Thinks Quickly 


289 


be difficult to translate into mere words. 
Back of him was John Forbes and the other 
members of the crew. The Sleeping Beauty 
belied his nickname, on this occasion at 
least, for not one of the boys was more 
alive and alert than this good-natured 
heavyweight. 

^^Hey, Forbesy,^^ yelled a little fellow 
on the river bank, ^^you want to look out 
or youffi swamp the boat and then we wonT 
have any race.’’ 

right, sonny,” was the cheerful 
response, ^‘I’U remember what you say, and 
if you’ve got any other instructions let me 
have ’em.” 

The laugh that went up from all sides 
proved that the repartee of the Sleeping 
Beauty was not lost on the crowd. While 
the spectators were still chuckling the 
members of the Cleverly crew appeared and 
were given a chivalrous cheer. They gave 
every evidence of being in perfect physical 
condition. Indeed, both crews, taking 
them boy for boy, were splendid specimens 
of vigorous young American manhood. 
They were aware of the fact that they were 


19 


290 


The Bell Haven Eight 


popular heroes, but they carried themselves 
with such boyish modesty that they easily 
won the good wall of the onlookers. As 
they carefully climbed into their respective 
shells they were greeted with almost con- 
stant hand-clapping and the waving of 
handkerchiefs, which they acknowledged 
with smiles and nods. 

The referee’s boat, a fast motor boat, was 
already in mid-stream waiting for the rival 
crews to get into position. Job Hodson, 
the referee, was a veteran coach and oars- 
man who knew every angle of the sport, 
and who had been selected on account of 
his reputation for impartiality. In the 
boat with him were Mike Murray, repre- 
senting the Bell Haven crew, and Jim 
Bums, the trainer and coach of the Cleverly 
oarsmen. Besides the timekeepers there 
were several newspaper representatives from 
the larger dailies who had been attracted 
by the promise of an unusually interesting 
race. They knew that if the affair proved 
a success it would thereafter be marked as 
an annual sporting event. 

Everybody was on edge. The moment 


Forbes Thinks Quickly 


291 


so anxiously anticipated for so many months 
had now arrived. If the boys showed no 
signs of nervousness, the spectators did. 
They fidgeted about and fussed and could 
scarcely sit still while they awaited the 
signal of the starter. But a glance at the 
men in the two shells showed that it could 
not be much longer delayed. Both boats 
were in position at the stake boats. The 
two coxswains looked expectantly in the 
direction of the referee. The boys, their 
oars buried over the blades in the water, 
leaned forward like so many greyhounds 
eager for the word of command. While 
they were in that position came the cry: 

“Ready!” 

Every boy got a better grip on the handle 
of his oar and waited for the pistol shot 
that was to be the signal for the start. 
It was a tense moment. The referee in the 
launch pulled out his weapon and pointed 
it skyward. 

“Bang!” 

The report came sharp and clear and 
reverberated over the waters of the Arling- 
ton River. The oars caught the water 


292 


The Bell Haven Eight 


in unison and the great race was on. At 
the outset the Cleverly crew took the lead 
and managed to maintain it for two or 
three minutes. After that the Bell Haven 
boys increased their stroke, and by the 
pluckiest kind of work started to overcome 
this lead. They did it too, slowly but 
surely. They worked in perfect form 
from the outset. Coxswain Brill, on whom 
so much depended, played his part to 
perfection. He showed powers that no one 
had dreamed of before the race. He 
encouraged and threatened the rowers by 
turn, and always he was calm and clear- 
headed. The boys in turn remembered 
their training of the last six months and 
made no mistakes. As the half-mile point 
was reached they pulled up even with the 
Cleverly boat amid a mighty cheer from the 
crowd that lined the shore. That shout filled 
them with fresh enthusiasm and bending to 
the oars they shot ahead of their rivals. 

Hurrah for Pinky Palmer!’’ screamed 
a member of his class, and it was taken up 
by the crowd that surrounded him, and 
carried along until it seemed as though the 


Forbes Thinks Quickly 


293 


entire river bank was filled with frenzied 
friends of the red-haired and freckle-faced 
captain of the Bell Haven crew. He heard 
the shout, and it gave him a feeling of joy 
that made the blood in his veins tingle with 
sympathy. All this time none of the boys 
turned to the right or the left. They kept 
their eyes in the boat and their undivided 
attention on the oars. And as a result 
of this they found themselves two boat 
lengths ahead of the Cleverly oarsmen. 
By the time the half-mile stake was passed 
this had been increased to four lengths and 
the partisans of the Bell Haven boys were 
feeling very good. They knew that a race 
was never finished until the entire course 
has been covered, but they had enough 
confidence in their yoimgsters to believe 
that they would hold the lead they had 
already won. 

The work of the next ten minutes seemed 
to justify this belief. The Cleverly boys 
were doing splendid rowing, but they did 
not seem to be able to recover the lengths 
they had lost in the early part of the race. 
Indeed, some inconsiderate boys were 


294 


The Bell Haven Eight 


already beginning to twit them on their 
failure to size up to the situation. 

^^What^s the matter with you ginks?’^ 
cried one urchin; ^^you act as if you’re 
tired.” 

^^Sure they are,” chimed in another. 
^^What they need is a nap. What’s the 
matter with callin’ off the race so they can 
go and take a good snooze?” 

There was an outburst of laughter at 
this sally heard by the boys of both crews. 
It seemed to particularly affect the Sleeping 
Beauty. Forbes had been doing magnifi- 
cent work. He had the strength of an ox, 
but he carried himself so carefully that he 
did not overdo his part. It was Brill that 
warned him not to mar the record: 

^^Be careful, Forbes,” he cried; ^^you 
don’t want to get the boys out of time.” 

^^Oh, I’m all right,” grunted the fat one, 
“and so are they.” 

So it appeared, for the Bell Haven boat 
was now fully five lengths ahead and was 
steadily going forward. Just at that 
moment, as the stout fellow bent to his 
work, there was a sharp crack and Forbes 


Forbes Thinks Quickly 


295 


fell backward. Everyone realized, in a 
flash, that he had broken his oar. A roar 
of dismay went up from the shore. The 
crew was badly crippled. The accident 
would probably cost them the race. The 
Sleeping Beauty was the picture of woe. 
The others were angry and disheartened, 
but in their hearts they had the justice not 
to blame Forbes for the misfortune. There 
had been some undetected flaw in the 
wood and fate had decreed that it should 
snap just as they were on the eve of victory. 

''Keep your stroke, boys!'' cried the 
I coxswain in a shrill, excited voice. "Don't 
stop for an instant, and we'll get away with 
I this yet." 

; But unfortunately the breaking of the 
oar had disconcerted them and it was not 
easy to . get back to their regular stroke. 

! Forbes dropped the stump of his oar over- 
I board and kept perfectly still. He knew he 
I was entirely useless. It was as though 

[ he were so much ballast. Instead of 

being an aid he was a handicap. The great 
big, strong fellow felt like crying with 
mortification. Presently his chums began 


296 


The Bell Haven Eight 


to catch together again, but by that time 
the Cleverly boys had regained their lost 
lengths and were just even with the Bell 
Haven shell. It did not take a very bright 
person long to see now that it was only a 
question of time when the Cleverly oarsmen 
would take the lead. 

It was then that John Forbes rose to the 
occasion. Not a single member of the 
Bell Haven crew had uttered a word of 
reproach. They realized his chagrin and, 
even in the bitterness of their own disap- 
pointment, had no wish to make the situa- 
tion any harder for him to bear. A groan 
had gone up from the crowd, but the sleep- 
ing Beauty thought nothing of that. His 
feehng was for his chums in the boat who 
had staked all their hopes on this race. 
He had looked at Brill, but the little fellow 
averted his eyes as if to spare Forbes. 
But the stout youth knew that defeat 
would mean a heavy heart for the freckle- 
faced boy who was the hfe of the school. 

So he thought quickly and acted 
promptly. Scarcely a hah minute had 
passed from the time the oar had snapped 


Forbes Thinks Quickly 


297 


until his resolve was made. He glanced 
at the coxswain, and getting his attention, 
said in a decisive and business-like manner: 

“Don’t pay any attention to me. Keep 
the boys going, and I’ll try to get away 
with this without shaking the boat any 
more than I can help.” 

As the oars caught the water he arose 
and crouched in his place. Many of the 
partisans of the Bell Haven team were 
petrified with surprise. They had already 
been badly shaken by the accident and now 
this unexpected move on the part of the 
Sleeping Beauty looked like a deliberate 
attempt to throw the race away. But the 
boys in the boat understood it, and it was 
James who voiced their feelings in a low, 
tense voice: 

“Forbes,” he said, “you’re certainly a 
good old sport!” 

But Forbes neither looked at him , nor 
answered him, but made a quick dive into 
the blue waters of the Arlington River. 
With the act there came a general reahzation 
of its meaning, and with that a shout of 
applause that was worth all it cost. The 


298 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Sleeping Beauty had performed his act 
so well that the Bell Haven shell experienced 
nothing worse than a slight rocking motion. 
The boys knew what was coming and they 
had braced themselves up to counteract 
the effects of John Forbes’ leap. Anything 
might have happened. The worst would 
have been the capsizing of the boat. But 
after the first tremor was over the boys 
settled down to the oars, and the shell, 
relieved of one hundred and eighty pounds 
of dead weight, glided ahead with the 
lightness of a bird and the precision of a 
perfect machine. 

: The Sleeping Beauty, in the meantime, 
was puffing in the water and making as 
much commotion as a wounded porpoise. 
He was a competent swimmer, of course, 
but he was far from shore and did not 
relish the thought of missing the conclusion 
of the race. His antics, however, had been 
watched by those aboard the referee’s 
boat and the moment he dived into the 
water the vessel was steered in his direction. 
It reached him quickly, and as the craft 
slowed its speed, Mike Murray and another 


Forbes Thinks Quickly 


299 


man pulled Forbes out of the water and he 
stood on the deck, dripping and despondent. 

couldn^t help it, Mike!’^ he cried, 
addressing the trainer familiarly in his 
excitement. ^^I’d have given my head if 
it hadn’t happened!” 

Murray gave the boy a resounding slap 
on the back that sent the water splashing 
in every direction. 

^^Help it!” he exclaimed at the top of his 
voice. “Why, the trouble vdth you is 
that you’re a hero and you don’t know it. 
If we win this race — and we’ve got a fighting 
chance — we’ll owe it to you, my Sleeping 
Beauty!” 


CHAPTER XXIII 


A THRILLING FINISH 

B y this time the spectators had worked 
themselves up to a frenzied state 
of excitement. First they cheered 
Forbes for his courageous plunge into the 
water and then they applauded the mem- 
bers of the crew for the cool-headed ! 

manner in which they continued at their ! 
work. 1 

But as if there were not commotion | 

enough, a new element was injected into i 

the proceedings. Tramp, the mascot of j 

the Bell Haven Academy, had been running ] 

up and down the river bank barking, \ 

growling and cutting up all kinds of canine \ 

capers. The shouts of the crowd when j 

Forbes broke his oar attracted the attention 
of the dog. He realized that something was 
wrong and he stood still, wagging his stump 
of a tail and whining piteously. He saw 
the Sleeping Beauty dive from the boat 

( 300 ) ; 


A Thrilling Finish 


301 


and after that performance he could restrain 
himself no longer. 

With a yelp he leaped into the river and 
started to swim in the direction of the ven- 
turesome Forbes. He was too late, how- 
ever, and before he got very far out into 
the stream the fat boy was being pulled 
into the referee^s boat. Disappointed, but 
not daunted, Tramp turned his attention 
to the Bell Haven shell. For an old yellow 
dog he made rapid progress, but of course 
it was impossible for him to hold his own 
with the lusty oarsmen. However, he 
yelped in the most unearthly manner. 
Mike Murray heard this and he directed 
the man at the wheel of the referee’s launch 
to steer it in the direction of the struggling 
dog. As the boat drew near the animal 
Murray reached over and grabbing Tramp 
by the nape of the neck pulled him aboard. 
The moment he did so Forbes seized him 
in his arms and hugged him to his 
bosom. 

''Bless your old heart,” he cried, in his 
fervent manner. "I just know that you 
came out here to wish us good luck. It’s 


302 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the only thing we needed. WeVe got the 
mascot and now we simply can^t lose.’^ 

A burst of laughter greeted this charac- 
teristic declaration. The. boy and the dog 
presented an amusing spectacle. It was 
hard to tell which of the two was the more 
forlorn looking. Both were dripping with 
water and presented a woe-begone appear- 
ance. Forbes was so intent upon the race 
that he forgot about the presence of any 
one else. All that he could see was the 
yellow dog in his arms and the Bell Haven 
crew pulling as if their lives depended upon 
the outcome. 

Pinky Palmer heard the yelping of Tramp 
and the sound was music to his ears. The 
red-haired one could not restrain his enthu- 
siasm. 

'^Boys/^ he called, ^Tt^s a cinch! Tramp 
and Forbes are both rooting for us.’^ 

A cheer went up from the oarsmen, but 
the coxswain promptly cut off the shouting. 

^^Save that energy for the final spurt,^' 
he said sharply. Don’t waste your wind 
on the air.” 

They accepted the rebuke in good part 


A Thrilling Finish 


303 


and settled down to the oars with dogged 
determination. The flash of the blades, 
the sway of the bodies, the regular dip in 
the water, all made a picture that was 
beautiful to behold. To the great joy of 
j the Bell Haven adherents the home crew 
was slowly pulling ahead of the Cleverly 
j boys. The stroke was quickened a little 

I and foot by foot they gained until clear 

1 water showed between the stem of the 
j Bell Haven and the bow of the Cleverly 
shell. The crowd on the river bank danced 
with delight. Familiar shouts rent the air 
' and hundreds of dainty handkerchiefs flut- 
tered in the gentle breeze. 

“Rah! Rah! Bell Haven !’^ came in 

[ swelling choms from several hundred lusty 
throats. <3 

The sound inspired the boys to still 
greater efforts. Once again the stroke was 
quickened and in a short time two full 
lengths separated the contending crews. 
At that moment the Bell Haven shell 
passed the two-mile flag and Pinky and his 
associates felt a confidence in the result 
which they had not experienced before. 


304 


The Bell Haven Eight 


Two-thirds of the distance had been rowed 
and nothing but some unforeseen accident 
could deprive them of the victory. 

In the meantime the Cleverly boys 
had not given up the fight by any means. 
Bob Hamilton, the coxswain of the crew, 
cheered them on from time to time and 
constantly assured them that they could 
win if they would make the effort. 

^^Now, boys,^^ he shouted, ^HheyVe 
played themselves out and it’s up to you 
to slide in at the finish and get that cup.” 

The Bell Haven youngsters heard this 
remark and, curious enough, it seemed to 
affect their work. They had been pulling 
with might and main, but now for the 
first time they showed a disposition to 
relax. They were tired and they were 
beginning to show it. 

Tony Brill, sitting in the coxswain’s 
chair, noticed this, but it did not trouble 
him very much at first. Bell Haven had 
such a good lead that the thought of being 
overtaken did not seem reasonable. But 
the momentary lagging was already begin- 
ning to make itself felt. The oars splashed 


A Thrilling Finish 


305 


more than was necessary and the boys 
pulled with less regard for team work. 

It has been said that there is a moment 
in every battle when there is a wavering 
in the line which is but a forerunner of final 
defeat. This moment appeared to have 
arrived as far as the Bell Haven boys were 
concerned. 

The coxswain of the Cleverly crew was 
quick to notice the signs of relaxation on the 
part of the rival crew. He called upon his 
own boys for another spurt and they 
responded with a unanimity that made 
the frail shell quiver as it shot ahead. 
Their bow was creeping up toward the 
stern of the other boat. Every oarsman 
felt that he was personally responsible 
for the result of the race, and as a conse- 
quence of this each one seemed to be sud- 
denly filled with the strength of two men. 
Those that watched them from the shore 
by means of field glasses could see that 
they were straining every effort to be the 
first to reach the goal. Such work was 
bound to tell. By the time they had 
reached the two-and-a-half-mile flag Clev- 






20 


306 


The Bell Haven Eight 


erly had overtaken Bell Haven and the 
two shells were going forward side by side. 

It was anybody’s race. 

A groan of despair went up from the 
Bell Haven rooters along the river bank. 
They had been confident of victory and the 
unexpected spurt of the Cleverly oarsmen 
put the result in doubt. General James 
stamped his foot on the ground to. indi- 
cate his annoyance. 

^Ht’s too bad!” he exclaimed. “It 
looked like a sure thing and now the 
chances are against our boys. That 
moment of relaxation was the cause of 
it all. It was over-confidence. It proves 
that nothing is certain in this world and if 
you expect to win you can’t even stop to 
spit on your hands.” 

There was a general laugh at this homely 
illustration and most of the listeners were 
disposed to agree with the distinguished 
lawyer. It was Tiberius Brown who openly 
and earnestly expressed his dissent. 

“What you say, General,” he remarked, 
“is true as a rule, but I think you’ll find 
that the Bell Haven crew is going to be 


A Thrilling Finish 


307 


the exception to the rule. They made 
a mistake in pausing for a single instant, 
but I think theyTe going to redeem them- 
selves.’’ 

'^What makes you think so?” 

‘^My knowledge of the boys. They’re 
human and most of them have the faults 
of youth, but there are two or three boys 
in that boat who never know when they’re 
beaten. Pinky Palmer is one and Bobby 
Benson’s another. Your own boy has 
shown staying powers, too. That’s the 
spirit that wins races.” 

The fond father’s face brightened with 
pleasure at these words. He turned to the 
professor with an expression of gratitude. 

^^By George!” he cried. There’s a 
whole lot in what you say, and I’d give 
anything to see Bell Haven win after all.” 

While this conversation was being held 
on the shore events were rapidly shaping 
themselves on the river. The referee’s 
launch had shot forward until it was now 
almost abreast of the rival crews. The 
Sleeping Beauty with his water-bedraggled 
clothes was still clutching Tramp in his 


308 


The Bell Haven Eight 


bare arms, and when he realized that the 
critical stage of the race had been reached 
he cried out to his clubmates at the top 
of his voice: 

^^Pull, you terriers, pull!^’ 

The intensity of the emotion of the fat 
one seemed to communiate itself to the 
boys in the shell. Also it aroused Tramp, 
who began to bark and yelp as he might 
if some one were standing on his stump of 
a tail. 

“WhaPs that racket?” asked Pinky 
Palmer between breaths. 

‘^IPs the Sleeping Beauty,” replied 
Bobby Benson, inhaling deeply. ‘^If we 
lose this race itdl break his heart.” 

Let's — ^try and — ^and save his life,” 
murmured the irrepressible Pinky, pulling 
harder than ever at his oar. 

The finish was now less than a quarter 
of a mile away and if the contest was won 
at all it would have to be by a great spurt. 
It was young James who gave the final 
rallying cry: 

^^Now, boys, all together — one last pull 
for your lives!” 


A Thrilling Finish 


309 


They bent dowTi with closed lips and 
sparkling eyes. The seven oars dipped into 
the water with rhythmic precision and 
they pulled with the energy and the strength 
of young giants. The muscles on their 
arms stood out like whip-cords and the 
perspiration was pouring off their brows. 
But the shell shot forv^ard as if it had 
been sent from the mouth of some mighty 
cannon. 

A cry of exultation was heard from the 
shore, followed by the fluttering of many 
handkerchiefs and the shrill barking of a 
yellow dog. 

Bell Haven had won by half a length! 


CHAPTER XXIV 


THE GOLDEN SCULLS 

T he enthusiasm of the crowds knew 
no bounds. They cheered and 

they yelled and then for good 
measure they cheered and they yelled 
some more. It seemed as if they had 
exhausted themselves after a time, but 
when the Bell Haven oarsmen climbed 
out of their shell on to the landing place the 
hilarity of the people broke out afresh. 
Undoubtedly it was the noisiest day that 
had ever been known of in that sedate 
little town. Each member of the crew 
came in for his particular share of attention, 
but the loudest and most prolonged ap- 
plause was bestowed on Pinky Palmer. 
The captain was very proud, but he was 
also very much fatigued, and he made an 
earnest effort to avoid the attentions of 
his admirers. But it was no use. They 
would not let him go. 

( 310 ) 


The Golden Sculls 


311 


''Oh, you red-head!’^ called a mischievous 
urchin. 

Pinky grinned, but the crowd took up 
the refrain and they were soon singing a 
popular song in which the inconvenience of 
having red hair was duly celebrated. The 
freckle-faced one waved his hand in ac- 
knowledgment of the compliment and once 
again tried to push and squirm through 
the congested mass of men, women and 
children. At that point one of his class- 
mates called out: 

"The captain^s tired — lePs give him a 
lift.^^ 

Before he realized what they were doing 
a squad of husky fellows had lifted him off 
his feet and were carrying him on their 
shoulders. It was folly to protest, so he 
good-naturedly made the best of the situa- 
tion. The other boys of the crew followed 
immediately in the rear, and then the 
crowd joined in this curious procession that 
slowly wound its way around the campus 
and finally dropped Pinky on to the ground 
in front of the boat house. 

That night there was a fireworks celebra- 


312 


The Bell Haven Eight 


tion that brought many persons from 
Cleverly and Burlingham to Bell Haven. 
The Cleverly boys took their defeat with 
the best of grace, and as a consequence they 
were made as much of as though they were 
the victors. Bob Hamilton, the captain of 
the vanquished crew, voiced the general 
verdict when he said: 

^^The Bell Haven crew won because they 
deserved to win. We put up the best 
fight we knew how and we lost out. We 
are disappointed but not disgraced. The 
best boat won. That’s all!” 
l-\ Two days later the annual commence- 
ment^^of the Academy was held and the 
boys of the Bell Haven crew were given 
another ovation. Indeed, the boy who 
won highest honors for mathematics was 
not to be compared, for the time being at 
least, with the one who had pulled an oar 
in that now historic race. Twelve months 
before the youngsters had been mad over 
baseball and now it was boat racing. 

^Ht’s difficult to account for the varying 
tastes of boys,” moralized Tiberius Brown. 
'^Last year they dreamed of balls and bats 


The Golden Sculls 


313 


and this year they think of nothing but 
shells and oars/^ 

^^It’s not as queer as it seems,” remarked 
General James, who happened to be stand- 
ing by. ^^They love to be with a winner. 
That’s the story in a nutshell. Last year 
Bell Haven had the best school baseball 
team in seven states. This year they have 
the best crew in this part of the country.” 

^'By the way, Benson,” said the profes- 
sor, addressing Bobby, “how did the base- 
ball team finish this year?” 

“They came out third,” said the boy. 
“We had a run of hard luck near the end 
of the season.” 

“That’s too bad,” commented Tiberius, 
“after you did so well last year.” 

“Benson wasn’t captain of the team this 
year,” twitted General James; “maybe 
that’s why they failed.” 

“No,” protested Bobby loyally, “that 
wasn’t the reason at all. The breaks were 
against us. That’s bound to happen some- 
times.” 

“Well,” remarked the teacher with a 
philosophic smile, “the boys won the boat 


314 


The Bell Haven Eight 


race and that ought to be enough for Bell 
Haven in one year. Don^t you think so.’' 

, certainly do/’ agreed Benson. 
the other boys are as happy as I am they 
must be feeling fine.” 

I Fortunately all’^of the members of the 
crew came out well in their studies. That 
spared them the reproach of having given 
more time to the development of their 
muscles than they had bestowed on the 
improvement of their minds. Pinky 
Palmer, Bobby Benson, Nelson James, 
Gordon Greely and John Forbes were 
among those who won special academic 
honors. They were pleased, of course, but 
none of them felt the same sense of elation 
they had experienced when they first knew 
they had won the boat race. 

After dinner that day, and while many 
oF^the boys were packing preparatory to 
home going, a call went out for a meeting 
of the pupils of the school to be held at 
three o’clock in the Academy auditorium. 
The purpose of the gathering was not made 
known, but all of the boys that could do 
so were urged to attend. The element of 


The Golden Sculls 


315 


mystery that was thus injected into the 
announcement had its effect. When the 
time came the hall was crowded. Dis- 
cipline was lax and there was a great deal 
of loud talking and cheering. When Pinky 
Palmer walked into the hall, looking neat 
and natty in a blue serge suit, some one 
shouted : 

Three cheers for the captain of the Bell 
Haven Crew!’' 

They were given with a will, and the 
mere physical exercise connected with the 
shouting seemed to put everybody into a 
good humor. There was a row of chairs on 
the stage and they were occupied by mem- 
bers of the faculty. Dr. Maury occupied 
the big red plush seat in the center, and on 
his right side, as the most distinguished 
graduate of Bell Haven, was General James, 
his clean-cut face beaming with delight. 
Tiberius Brown was present also, but with 
characteristic modesty he kept in the back- 
ground. Old Adam, the venerable janitor, 
stood on the floor near the right-hand side 
of the stage, where he could get a good 
view of all that was going on. To make 


316 


The Bell Haven Eight 


the scene complete the Bell Haven crew 
were seated in the front row of the audi- 
torium, with Bobby Benson holding Tramp 
on his lap. Presently General James arose, 
and walking to the edge of the stage he 
said: 

Our proceedings this afternoon are going 
to be short and sweet. Some of the boys 
in the school — I may say all of the boys in 
the school — thought we should get together 
for a few minutes this afternoon in order 
to honor one of your number who has 
brought victory to Bell Haven. I^m sure 
that it will not be necessary to name the 
young man 

Palmer! Palmer!! Palmer !!!^^ came from 
all parts of the hall. 

“You have guessed correctly, and now if 
Mr. Pinky Palmer will be good enough to 
come on the stage I will have the great 
pleasure of pinning on his coat a pair of 
miniature sculls made of gold which the 
boys of the school" wish him to accept as 
an expression of their regard and good 
wiU.^^ 

No conquering hero ever received a 


The Golden Sculls 


317 


warmer welcome than did the red-haired 
and freckle-faced captain of the Bell Haven 
crew as he stood facing General James. 
There was a perfect storm of applause as 
the jewel, which contained a tiny diamond, 
was fastened on to the lapel of his coat. 
As the task was completed the soldier 
pushed Pinky to the edge of the platform, 
and said abruptly: 

^'Boys, your captain!’^ 

Pinky stood there while the storm raged. 
His knees felt shaky and there was a queer 
creeping sensation that affected his back- 
bone. He looked out at that wilderness of 
faces, and could think of nothing to say. 
As through a mist he could discern the 
friendly countenance of Bobby Benson and 
the encouraging nods of James and Greely 
and Forbes. Presently the wild applause 
died out and there was perfect silence. 
Pinky essayed to speak, but a great lump 
came in his throat and he felt a foolish 
desire to burst out crying. He restrained 
it by a great effort and exclaimed with 
fervor and intensity: 

^^Boys, I^m awfully happy and grateful. 


I , 


X'C. I^f 
H. • 


318 The Bell Haven Eight 


I — I — ^just don’t know how to thank you, 
but I promise that I’ll never forget what 
you’ve done for me. Good-by and good 
luck!” 

There was eloquence in that brief speech, 
and it was appreciated by the boys of Bell 
Haven, who gave three final cheers for 
Pinky and his associates and then streamed 
out of the hall to prepare for their depar- 
ture for the summer vacation. 














